Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
University of Nebraska Omaha logo
College of Public Affairs and Community Service School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About Us Backback to Main menu
    • Welcome
    • News and Announcements
    • Calendar of Events
    • Our Faculty and Staff
    • SCCJ Scholarship and Awards Luncheon
    • SCCJ Golf Scramble
    • Donate to Scholarships
    • Directions and Guest Parking
    • History of the UNO SCCJ
  • Undergraduate Programs Backback to Main menu
    • Become a Student
    • Academic Advising and Student Inquiries
    • Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • Bachelor of Science (Online)
    • Fast Track Program (BS to Masters)
    • Minor in Criminal Justice, Policing or Victimology
    • Undergraduate Program Internships
    • TRAC Program
    • Global Experiences - Study Abroad Trips
    • Student Organizations
    • Scholarships
    • Student of the Month
  • Graduate Programs Backback to Main menu
    • Doctoral program
    • MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • MSCJ-MSW Joint degree
    • Graduate Certificate in Managing Juvenile and Adult Populations
    • Graduate Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • Graduate Internships with CJ Agencies
    • Graduate Student Organization
    • Graduate Student Research Fellowships
  • Research Backback to Main menu
    • Faculty / Student Research
    • Victimology and Victim Studies Research (VVRSL) Lab
    • Violence Intervention and Policing Research (VIPR) Lab
    • The Advancing Research in Corrections (ARC) Lab
    • National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE)
    • Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR)
    • Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI)
    • Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention (NeCVIP)
    • Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice
  • Professional Programs Backback to Main menu
    • Nebraska Victim Assistance Academy (NEVAA)
    • American Jail Association Jail Executive Institute
    • The Role of the Prosecutor
    • Juvenile Justice Certificate Program
    • Additional Workshops Previously Hosted by SCCJ
    • Community Resources
  • Alumni Backback to Main menu
    • SCCJ Graduates Making News
    • Alumni Contact Form
    • Alumni Awards and Recipients
    • Ph.D. Alumni
  • Support Us Backback to Main menu
    • Giving Opportunities
    • Scholarships to Support

Tara N. Richards, Ph.D. Named Site Coach for NJR Project

  1. UNO
  2. CPACS
  3. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
  4. Faculty and Staff
  5. News and Events
  6. Tara N. Richards, Ph.D. Named Site Coach for NJR Project

Tara N. Richards, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) as well as founder and head of the SCCJ’s new Victimology and Victim Studies Research Lab (VVSRL), was recently tapped to serve as site coach for Nebraska’s Justice Reinvestment (NJR) project. The NJR project is a by-product of legislation enacted in Nebraska in 2015, designed to reduce prison overcrowding, and safely and effectively expand the use of probation and parole supervision.

Expanding crime victim support services is an objective that Richards and others in the NJR work group are currently addressing. They are developing guidelines for the Nebraska Board of Parole (NBOP) to incorporate victim impact statements in the parole decision-making process, as well as facilitating better understanding of the parole and supervision processes for victims. Additionally, the work group is creating guidelines for field officers on victim and advocacy group engagement and providing information on victim impact for people on parole as well as victim services resources for parole clients.

According to Richards, the criminal justice system historically has not provided many opportunities for victims to have a voice. “Victims can provide impact statements at sentencing, but they don’t even have a right to be heard at their own trial,” Richards noted. “This project, developed and led by NBOP stakeholders, is a model example of how we can shift the criminal justice system’s culture in support of victims’ rights and inclusion,” she said.

Richards went on to explain that the Nebraska Board of Parole and Division of Parole Supervision wants to better support crime victims. “The NBOP wants to be a national leader in developing best-practice guidelines for both talking to and hearing from crime victims and victim advocacy groups in the parole and supervision stages,” Richards said.

In her role as site coach, Richards will serve as a subject matter expert in the areas of victimology and victim studies to support NBOP in their efforts. “As a coach it is my job to bring existing best practices to the table and to help guide NBOP stakeholders as they make decisions about what is going to work for Nebraska,” she explained.

UNOs School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has strong relationships with state agencies and non-profits that deal with crime, criminal justice issues and victim’s rights. Dr. Richards serving as site coach for this initiative is yet another example of faculty experts in the SCCJ supporting the needs of practitioner partners through research efforts.

Published April, 2021

Announcements

  • SCCJ Master's program #6 in nation
  • SCCJ Announces New Fast Track Program
  • News and Events

Contact Us

  • SCCJ on the UNO Campus
  • 6001 Dodge Street, 218 CPACS
  • Omaha, NE 68182
  • Phone: 402.554.2610

  • SCCJ on the UNL Campus
  • 310 Nebraska Hall
  • Lincoln, NE 68588-0561
  • Phone: 402.472.3677
  • Website

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • College of Public Affairs and Community Service
  • 6001 Dodge Street, 218 CPACS
  • Omaha, NE 68182
  • 402.554.2610
Social media
Transformational Research
  • Faculty Research and Expertise
  • Victimology and Victim Services Research Lab (VVRSL)
  • Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention (NeCVIP)
  • National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE)
  • Nebraska Center for Justice Research
  • Juvenile Justice Institute
Student Resources
  • Apply to UNO!
  • Scholarships
  • Internships
  • Graduate School Application
badge

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.