Erin Sheridan
Erin Sheridan joined ICJIA as a Research Analyst in August 2016. Recently, Erin served as a research assistant in the ICJIA Research & Analysis Unit Clearinghouse Center. She earned a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Loyola University, and is currently working on her PhD in Criminal Justice at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is very interested in research topics related to corrections and law enforcement, and is actually trained as both a correctional officer and police officer. For her dissertation, she is assisting in a study of the Chicago Police Department’s implementation of body-worn cameras.
Erin Sheridan is
Authority Research Analyst.
Academic Background
- Master of Science, Criminal Justice and Criminology, Loyola
University
- Currently working on PhD, Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago
Areas of Interest
Corrections and law enforcement, and is actually trained as both a correctional officer and police officer
Illinois Criminal Justice
Drug trafficking constitutes a major threat to public health and community well-being. Multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, comprised of law enforcement officers in one or more counties that agree to pool resources, were designed to combat drug distribution and trafficking. Researchers evaluated 19 drug task forces in Illinois using quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative methods included analyzing administrative data and state arrest records. Qualitative methods included focus groups with members of 18 task forces and surveys of both staff and policy board directors. The study revealed Illinois drug task forces made proportionately more drug arrests carrying more serious felony and manufacture/delivery charges than their local police counterparts. The study also showed the task forces fostered collaboration with stakeholders, maintained fidelity to critical elements of drug task forces, and garnered support from their policy boards.