Is your advocacy inclusive of victims of environmental crimes? Are you aware that there are communities that face disproportionate exposure to pollutants and resulting health implications? Do you want to learn how to support these victims and their communities? Join us as subject matter experts Dr. Melissa Jarrell Ozymy and Dr. Joshua Ozymy discuss the intersections of the victims’ rights & environmental justice movements; how the legal definition of “victim” can encompass persons and communities impacted by environmental crimes; and potential legal arguments to assert and seek enforcement of environmental crime victims’ rights in federal and state courts.

Date: Thursday, December 9, 2021

Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm (Pacific)

Location: Online Event

Dr. Melissa Jarrell Ozymy is the Department Head of Social, Cultural, and Justice Studies and Professor of Criminal Justice in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Dr. Jarrell earned her BA in Anthropology from Eckerd College and her M.A. and PhD in Criminology from the University of South Florida. Prior to joining the faculty at UTC, she served as Dean of University College at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Prior administrative appointments include Department Chair of Undergraduate Studies, Graduate Coordinator of the Public Administration program, and Internship Coordinator for Criminal Justice. Dr. Jarrell has published articles in journals such as Crime, Law and Social Change, Environmental Justice, Environmental Politics, and Review of Policy Research. Her research interests include green criminology, environmental justice, and environmental victimization. Dr. Jarrell was awarded the Praxis Award from the American Society of Criminology, Division on Critical Criminology and Social Justice, for Activism and Community Engagement in Environmental Justice.

Dr. Joshua Ozymy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Service at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has published over 60 academic articles on the criminal enforcement of environmental law, environmental justice, and related topics. Prior to his position at UTC, he was Director of the Honors Program and Strategic Initiatives and a Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. His book, Toxic Intent: A History of the Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Law in the United States, is slated to be published by the Environmental Law Institute Press next year.

Facilitated by Desiree Staeffler, Victims’ Rights Fellow, National Crime Victim Law Institute.

Registration closes on 12/6/2021.
This training was produced under 2020‐V3‐GX‐K022, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this training are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.