DOC member Susan McNeeley wins national award for research on corrections issues

The important research work Local 1101’s Susan McNeeley is doing at the Department of Corrections (DOC) has earned her a prestigious national award from the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Corrections and Sentencing.  

McNeeley has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed academic publications on a wide variety of topics in corrections, including restrictive housing, visitation, special populations such as incarcerated veterans and risk-factors for post-release mortality. She received the Edward J. Latessa Practitioner Research Award for excellent social science research or implementation that is conducted in government or community agencies to help develop better policy or operate more effectively. DOC research publications are available here. 

One of the biggest impacts McNeeley has made during her eight-year career at DOC was her research on the EMPLOY program. The program was designed to help those incarcerated find work when they re-enter the community. “Management cut the program for budgetary reasons, but I had already started the research. The results showed EMPLOY participants were more likely to find jobs, including better jobs, and had lower recidivism rates than those who did not participate in the program. So, they brought the program back when they saw how successful it had been,” McNeeley said. 

Visitation also influences recidivism rates. Those who had family and friends visit were less likely to commit new crimes or come back to state correctional facilities. Her research also found that those who had virtual visits also had lower risk of recidivism. 

McNeeley has also studied violence in facilities, including predictors in violence against staff. She found interesting data following major changes in policy regarding how much time incarcerated people could be assigned restricted housing for violating rules. “We found there was an increase in violence both when they reduced the maximum penalties and when they increased the penalties. You must be really careful with policy changes – incarcerated people could find the discipline process unfair or arbitrary depending on how it is communicated, and that can influence misconduct,” McNeeley said.  

One of the areas the research team has started investigating is the effect the pandemic had on the activities at the correctional facilities, “There were many operational changes during the pandemic. If we see how outcomes changed during that time – for example, if violence increased or decreased – we could learn lessons for impacting events in the future.” Researchers are also now examining mortality data for formerly incarcerated people from the Department of Health to learn how to improve health outcomes.  

McNeeley said as soon as she heard about MAPE, “I wanted to join. I really appreciate being in a union.” She currently is Local 1101 Treasurer and a steward.  

“Dr. McNeeley is also a member of our Social Welfare Committee and our Membership Committee,” Local 1101 President Halie Rostberg said. “Susan is always willing and ready to step up. I am happy and grateful she makes time for active participation in union activity, on top of all of the demands of her job. Local 1101 is so lucky to have her as one of our leaders.”