University Fast Links Academic Affairs Academic Calendar Academic Community Engagement (ACE) Academic Planning and Assessment Accepted Students Admissions (Undergraduate) Admissions (Graduate) Admission Requirements Analytical Laboratory Advising (Medical/Dental Related) Advising (SAM Center) Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology Alumni Association Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative Army ROTC - Military Science Athletics Banner Banking Bearkat Camp Bearkat Express Payment Bearkat Marching Band Bearkat OneCard Bearkat Transfer Scholarship Blackboard Blinn College Transfers Bookstore Books & Supplies Budget Office Bursar's Office Business Administration Calendars Campus Map Career Services Catalogs Class Schedule Computer Account Creation Computer Labs Continuing Education Controller's Office Correspondence Course Division Counseling Center Criminal Justice Current Students Dean of Students' Office Departments Department of Dance Dining Services Directory Education Educator Preparation Services Emergency Management Employment Opportunities English Language Institute Enrollment Management Environmental, Health and Safety Office Exchange Mail Facilites Management Facilities Space Management Faculty Senate Faculty/Staff Directory Final Exam Schedule Finance and Operations Financial Aid Fine Arts and Mass Communication First-Year Experience General Information Graduate Studies Great Names Health Sciences Honors College Homecoming Human Resources Humanities and Social Sciences IT@Sam IT@Sam Service Desk Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) Institutional Effectiveness Internal Grant Program Institutional Review Board (IRB) International Programs Joint Admission Students KatFacts Library (NGL) Lone Star College Transfers Lowman Student Center Map - Campus Marketing & Communications Math CAMP Medical & Allied Health Programs McNair Program Military Science Mobile Go Center Music Music Choir News Nursing Office of Business Services Office of the President Online Information Request Organization Chart Orientation - New Student PACE Parent Relations Office Parking Payroll Office Procurement and Business Services Procurement Opportunities Project Connect Property Prospective Students Public Safety Quality Enhancement Plan Reading Center Recreational Sports Registration Registrar's Office Research and Sponsored Programs Residence Life Risk Management Sam Shuttle SACS Reaffirmation Sam Houston Memorial Museum SamMenu (Download) SamWeb Sciences Services for Students with Disabilities Schedule of Classes Scholarships SHSU Marketplace Spirit Programs Staff Council Student Activities Student Government Association Student Health Center Student Legal Services Student Money Management Center Student Services Student Services Calendar Summer Camps Technology Tutorials Testing Center Theatre and Dance Today@Sam Tour the University Transcripts Transfer Equivalency Guide Transfer Students TRIES University Advancement University Center University Hotel University Park - Northwest Houston Campus University Police Department Veterans Visitor & Alumni Center The Woodlands Center Writing Center

Criminal Justice Graduate Student Receives National Award

March 20, 2013
SHSU Media Contact: Beth Kuhles

 

Sam Houston State University criminal justice graduate student Sara Simmons was one of only two students nationally recognized with a Madriz Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for her research on the effects of intimate partner violence on substance abuse and depression.

Her study, “The effects of intimate partner violence on drugs use and mental health for men and women involved in the NYSFS study,” was presented and recognized at the annual conference in Dallas.

Co-authored by criminal justice assistant professor Kelly Knight and professor Scott Menard, the paper found that men were more likely to increase problematic alcohol consumption, as well as the use of marijuana and illegal drugs, after being victims of intimate partner violence, while women were more likely to increase their use of marijuana after perpetrating the crime.

“Males were more likely to experience problems,” said Simmons. “Females did not have the expected results.”

Every year, 1.8 million women and 835,000 men experience intimate partner violence.

Simmons used the National Youth Survey Family Study—which is ongoing research that has followed 1,725 youth and their families since 1976 to measure changing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors—to investigate the impact of intimate partner violence on depression and drug use. Simmons’s study measured the use of problematic alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs, prescription drugs and depression in following intimate partner violence for both the victim and perpetrator.

Simmons said she was surprised by the results and hopes to investigate the issues further.
Simmons, who said she is “surprised and pleased” to be recognized with the honor, was presented the Madriz Award by the Minorities and Women Section of the Academy, one of two major professional organizations in criminal justice. The award recognizes ethnic and racial diversity in criminal justice education and is designed to advance critical thinking concerning women and gender issues in criminal justice.

“Sara just got accepted to the Ph.D. program, and it was the first paper she ever submitted,” Knight said. “Sara is unique because she is compassionate—she really cares about what happens to women in terms of their victimization. She is willing to roll up her sleeves and do the hard, but often less exciting, work. She often goes above and beyond.”

Simmons will receive her Master of Arts degree in criminology from SHSU in May and will begin SHSU’s criminal justice doctoral program in August with plans to specialize in victim issues and hoping to teach in the future.

“I’m interested in doing something in victimization,” said Simmons. “I took a victimology course as an undergraduate (at St. Edward’s University), and I am interested in the effects it has on people who are victims.”

 

 

- END -

 

 

This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Associate Director: Julia May
Manager: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834

Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.