Mary Parker
Dr. Parker (mlparker@ualr.edu), a faculty member since 1984, serves as the administrative head of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which encompasses three degree programs, eight full time faculty and 14 part-time instructors, serving approximately 300-500 students a semester. In addition to her administrative and teaching duties, she serves as a member of the Board of Corrections, which oversees all adult correctional activities in the State of Arkansas.
As part of her Board responsibilities she serves as the grant liaison for the Department of Correction and the Department of Community Correction, the legislative liaison for both agencies and the Board, and the chief liaison for the Department of Correction. In addition to her service on the Board, she is active in both university and community activities which support efforts on behalf of women in prison and their children, the advancement of literacy and the university community as a whole.
She is currently working on projects focusing on adult offenders and their constitutional rights, policy issues in corrections, and the value of service and mentoring in the academic community. She is an acknowledged expert on corrections in Arkansas, having authored the legislation that supports the current adult correctional configuration, and continues to be a recognized expert by all branches of government.
Education:
B.A. in Criminal Justice, Northeast Louisiana University
M.A. in Criminal Justice, Northeast Louisiana University
PhD in Criminology, Sam Houston State University
Research Interests:
Constitutional Rights of Inmates
Correctional Policy Issues
Legal Processes Involved in Correctional Litigation
Public Service and its Role in the Academy
Mentoring in the Criminal Justice Field
Issues of Incarcerated Women
Issues Related to the Children of Incarcerated Men and Women
Select Publications/Notable Research Projects:
“Meritorious Furloughs and Clemency Policies across the United States”
“The Impact of Legal Changes Designed to Limit Inmates’ Access to the Courts and its Effect on Inmate Litigation”
“Mental and Medical Health Care for Incarcerated Women”
“Cross Cultural Mentoring in the Academic Setting”