Education

Ph.D., Criminal Justice, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

M.A., Criminal Justice, University at Albany, State University of New York

B.A., Sociology, Regis College

Bio

Barbara Morrell, Ph.D. has been a dedicated faculty member at St. Joseph’s University, New York for over 35 years.  She spearheaded the writing of the Criminal Justice major which was approved by New York State in 2006, and was instrumental in the creation of the five specialty tracks within the major.  She has continued to develop and advance pedagogy in the criminal justice field with a fully online Criminal Justice degree, and a Master of Science In Forensic Computing.

She currently serves as the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department and major advisor to students within the major. Dr. Morrell has placed senior criminal justice majors in internship positions within over 40 different criminal justice agencies in the community, including police, courts, corrections, and client agencies.  She also serves as the Faculty Moderator of the Criminal Justice Club which she originated, and created the chapter of Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society on the Long Island campus.

Dr. Morrell has conducted research in the Riverhead Correctional Facility Women's DWI Unit to assess the impact of a memoir writing program, Herstory, on five psychological outcomes of wellbeing and presented at the American Society of Criminology.

Dr. Morrell is an advocate for juvenile justice policy reform. She has presented nationally with other research scholars and lawyers advocating for revising laws transferring juveniles to adult court. She supports alternatives to incarceration including diversion and close to home solutions, as well as breaking the school-to-prison- pipeline. She is also an advocate for correctional alternatives beyond the bars and prison reform. 

Dr. Morrell has trained in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the international program Inside-Out, and launched the first Inside-Out course combining St. Joseph's University students and inmates at the Riverhead Correctional Facility in Spring 2017. The course, “Voices from the Inside”  involved a critical analysis through discussion and written reaction to writings of diverse incarcerated people from different eras, countries and races.

An advocate of Restorative Justice, Dr. Morrell has visited and planned a student Global Trip to Capetown, South Africa to visit Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.

Professional Organizations

Dr. Morrell belongs to several professional organizations, including:

the American Society of Criminology

the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 

the Juvenile Justice Coalition.

Select Publications

Her published works include, among others:

• "Can Ex-Offenders Ever Become Productive Citizens? Barriers to and Policies Toward Reentry"
• "Rehabilitative Approaches to Corrections Bolstered by Knowledge of Effective Treatment Principles and Firm Public Support"
• "Research Examines Impact of Incarceration on Children: More Targeted and Coordinated Reentry Services Needed"