What The Sociology & Criminology Program Can Do For You
Linden Hughes is an alumnus of the Sociology Department through obtaining the Criminology Certificate
and uses her background in sociology/criminology everyday as a researcher for the
Utah Department of Corrections. Linden was gratious enough to let us know how the
Sociology & Criminology program helped her in her career. Read below to see what she
has to say.Time at the U
I decided to attend the University of Utah mostly because I'm a Utah native and had received a full-ride scholarship (and GO UTES!). I was interested in psychology and human behavior in high school, so that's what I immediately began to pursue in college. As I started my undergraduate education, I realized how many overlaps there were between psychology and sociology, and I was excited to take advantage of the criminology certificate (since they didn't have an actual degree at the time). I wanted to understand how people operate internally and externally, especially as it pertains to deviance.
How Sociology/Criminology/[Psychology] program has helped in my career
Generally speaking, it has given me a surplus of opportunities - both academically and professionally. I took a rather unique trajectory in both my academic and professional journeys. But that just shows how far and how many places you can go with these various degrees. I would recommend students take advantage of all opportunities offered to them - your path does not have to be linear and you never know what will come from it. You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable; things are always changing, so adaptability is key.
Cross-disciplinary efforts are also vital, and they are becoming increasingly so. Having the diverse background I do has allowed me to find my niche as well as foster collaboration with colleagues, executives, and experts outside of your network. I do not think we should be siloed as individuals seeking to better the future.
My Career Now
Ultimately, my goal is to make systemic change and help better the communities of the populations we work with and the populations we serve. So I started working for the Utah Department of Corrections as a research consultant in both the Research & Planning and the Technology & Innovation teams.
One of my primary responsibilities is serving as Research Chair, which primarily involves handling all internal and external research requests. I also have the opportunity to conduct my own research, which is part of why I'm partnering with Katie Durante on a grant next spring. I am also a part of workflow management, so I monitor how we are completing projects and the time it takes; but also implementing more and more automation so we can reduce efforts on monotonous tasks. Furthermore, I am very much responsible for doing data analysis and interpretation, as well as presenting [visual] findings to executives in a way that is digestible. Research is valuable, but only insofar as the quality of the data is good (i.e., validity, reliability, meaning, and implications of our findings). That's the whole point, right? To make data-driven decisions in a way that is accurate but understandable.
Interdepartmental Teams:
Policy Advisory Committee Chair: This is an important role in that I help review and approve departmental policy and procedure - particularly as it pertains to our division. This involves being informed of current legislation and constant changes in the internal organizational structure. It is a great opportunity for experience in government.
Civilian Collaboration Committee: It's a relatively new committee that, excitedly, focuses its efforts on interdisciplinary collaboration within the state. We discuss issues and trends across divisions and try to address them together rather than apart.
AWEC Mentorship Program: This is "a unique opportunity where participants can engage with one another on a variety of issues facilitated by an experienced AWEC corrections/law enforcement mentor". This includes 6 months of group and 1:1 mentorship sessions, and is an opportunity for smaller, more intimate groups of mentors and mentees across the nation to expand on the topics discussed above and how we can individually implement some of this advice in our own personal career.
"Boots on the Ground":I think it is extremely helpful to participate in field experience regardless of your role so you can truly understand the various processes involved for various positions or career paths. I go on ride-alongs, I have attended days on the Hill, and I am a perpetual conference attendee across the nation. The key is to never stop learning or being curious.
Personal Thoughts
I always knew I was a nerd, but never thought I'd become a data nerd. I think in addition to gaining experience, I think it's valuable to job-craft so you get a position that really works for you and your interests. For me personally, I am partnering with many divisions (e.g., Adult Probation & Parole, Re-entry & Rehabilitation, Prison Operations, etc.). Currently, working with these teams allows me to make an actual difference in the lives of those in (or recently were in) incarceration. As an example, I am looking at self-report data from parole violators and identifying the risk/protective factors so we can better learn to reach our goals as a department to reduce recidivism. I also helped create the new mission, vision, and values for the department as a whole.While all of this is really exciting, I no doubt will end up in academia again at some point.