📚 Forthcoming Books
Rethinking Reentry: A Faith-Based, Restorative Justice Approach
Expected Release: 2026
Description: A groundbreaking exploration of how faith communities can partner with justice-impacted individuals to create pathways for healing, restoration, and successful reintegration. This work challenges traditional punitive models and centers community-based solutions rooted in dignity and love.
Intersectionality in Convict Criminology
Co-authored with: J. Renee Trombley
Description: This book expands the field of convict criminology to include the voices of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. It centers lived experience as valid scholarship and shifts narratives about who gets to produce knowledge in criminal justice studies.
Audience: Scholars, students, activists, and anyone seeking more inclusive criminal justice frameworks.
📄 Published Research & Reports
Bexar County Reentry Evaluation Report (2022)
Commissioned by: Bureau of Justice Assistance
Focus: A comprehensive policy-focused study assessing local reentry and transitional service programs in Bexar County, Texas.
Impact: Provided actionable recommendations for reducing recidivism and strengthening trauma-informed services for reentering residents. Influenced local government policy and service provider practices.
✍️ Scholarly Contributions
Dr. Piper's research focuses on:
- Restorative Justice Pedagogy: Integrating restorative practices into criminal justice education
- Faith-Based Reentry: Exploring the role of religious communities in supporting justice-impacted individuals
- Convict Criminology: Centering the voices and experiences of formerly incarcerated scholars
- Intersectional Justice: Examining how race, gender, sexuality, and class intersect within the criminal justice system
- Community-Based Corrections: Developing alternatives to incarceration that prioritize healing and accountability
🎤 Select Academic Presentations
- TEDxUIW: "Cultivating Institutional Belonging" - Exploring how institutions can create spaces of genuine inclusion
- American Society of Criminology: Multiple presentations on restorative justice, reentry, and convict criminology
- Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences: Panels on faith-based corrections and community partnerships
- National Conferences: Regular speaker on topics of mass incarceration, reentry, and transformative justice
📋 Curriculum Vitae
For a complete list of publications, presentations, and academic achievements, please view Dr. Piper's CV: