Other Research Areas

Incel Communities (Francesca Fanucchi )

This research assesses increasingly targeted women by proclaimed “Incels” through online hate speech and violent attacks. The Incel Movement is a new phenomenon, however, there is limited academic research addressing the issue. Therefore, this research proposal aims to examine self-radicalization within online incel communities and to what extent are online incel communities promoting extremist ideologies by reinforcing aggrieved entitlement ideals.

Navigating the Criminal Justice System as Transgender (Allyson Cruz Galan)

The transgender community has historically been an underserved community vulnerable to discrimination and stigmatization by society and specifically the criminal justice system (CJS). As a result of their gender-identity they are more likely to be criminalized and face mistreatment, physical or sexual assault, or disrespect when interacting with any of the three elements of the CJS: law enforcement, the courts system, or the prisons system. The purpose of this research was to give the transgender community a space to tell their story and describe their own experiences with the three elements of the CJS.

Mental Health of DACA Students (Jai Mica Vaca)

Threats to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy have created increased mental health distress for recipients and their families. This is because they live in constant fear of deportation and potential separation from their family. For those attending university, these fears are compounded by the stress and anxiety common among higher education students. Therefore, it is important to investigate how DACA university students manage mental health and well-being, the factors that contribute to them seeking or not seeking assistance, and the services that are available and used by students. This study explores how legal status and policy limbo affects the mental health of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students at San Jose State University (SJSU). The study aims to build awareness of the issues associated with policy limbo for DACA students with implications for with implications for community organizations, SJSU, and other higher education institutions.

Lethal Injections (Ann Soliman)

Botched lethal injections are highly problematic because they challenge the legitimacy of capital punishment and the adoption of technological or medical advancements in state killings. Scholars often fail to examine how botched lethal injections occur or address why these procedures are botched. As we discuss policy reforms, the concern is state officials are proposing ways to amend lethal injection statutes without addressing the myriad of problems associated with the procedure. Therefore, this research paper aims to identify the primary causes of “botched” executions by lethal injection and the impact of these medical and procedural failures on the legality of lethal injection protocols in the United States.

Publications and Presentations

  • Fanucchi, F. & Westlake, B. G. (2021, November 17-20). Promotion of extremist ideologies in online incel communities [Conference Presentation]. 76th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Chicago, IL, United States. [conference program]
  • Fanucchi, F. (2021, April 29). The promotion of extremist ideologies within online incel communities [Oral Presentation]. 2021 College of Social Science Dean’s Student Colloquium, San Jose, CA, United States.
  • Vaca, J. M. (2021, April 29). Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy uncertainty [Poster Presentation]. 2021 College of Social Science Dean’s Student Colloquium, San Jose, CA, United States.
  • Galan, A. C. (2022, April 21). The experiences of transgender people who navigate the criminal justice system [Poster Presentation]. 2022 College of Social Science Dean’s Student Colloquium, San Jose, CA, United States.
  • Soliman, A., & Westlake, B. G. (2016, November 16-19). ‘Aesthetically pleasing?’: The portrayal of botched lethal injections in the American media [Conference Presentation]. 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology, New Orleans, LA, United States. [conference program]
  • Soliman, A., & Westlake, B. G. (2016, February 4-6). Three-drug cocktail: The media representation of botched lethal injections in the United States [Conference Presentation]. 43rd Annual Conference of the Western Society of Criminology, Vancouver, BC, Canada. [conference program]