Courtney Porter

Courtney M. Porter, PhD | Assistant Professor | School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Marymount University College of Sciences and Humanities

An accomplished educator and criminal justice researcher with particular expertise in juvenile justice, Courtney M. Porter, PhD has excelled as the Assistant Professor of Forensic and Legal Psychology at the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences within the Marymount University College of Sciences and Humanities since 2022. Through this position, she has revamped the forensic and legal psychology program; alongside other professors, this initiative involved hiring new instructors and reshaping its trajectory to maximize the success of students. She also takes pride in performing research and gathering administrative data on youth-related issues, as well as collaborating with colleagues who focus on LGBTQ+ studies for work concerning identity barriers in academia. She previously found success as a research analyst and the director of research and development at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court within the Fairfax County government and as a research associate with the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence at George Mason University.

Growing up in a family that valued and encouraged educational achievement, Dr. Porter developed a profound interest in victimology and the criminal justice system early on. She ultimately earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Forensic and Legal Psychology from Marymount University. Wielding these degrees, she began her career as a case manager for individuals grappling with severe mental illness, many of whom also struggled with substance abuse and mental health disorders. Leveraging her educational background in forensic psychology, she engaged with clients entangled in the criminal justice system. In the midst of this role, she felt this path “did not align with her true calling,” pushing her to transition into the research domain. She joined a consulting firm, where she investigated domestic trafficking and assessed the efficacy of the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center—prompting her to pursue a doctorate in her field in the midst of her career.

On the road toward a PhD in Criminology, Law, and Society—which she wound up attaining from George Mason University in 2019—she contributed significantly to a nonprofit organization’s research endeavors, specializing in data analysis, refining marketing strategies, and assisting an organization that supported students in accessing business schools. She migrated into academia as a teaching assistant at George Mason University in 2010, where she oversaw Fairfax County’s juvenile domestic relations project; in the role of project manager and primary researcher, she spearheaded an investigation into implementing evidence-based practices within the juvenile system. Upon reflection of her career, she believes she has had a vast influence on the professional growth of doctoral students, empowering them to cultivate essential skills necessary for navigating their initial job experiences and helping to advance their careers.

Looking toward the future, Dr. Porter strives to organize a summer professional development summit at Marymount University tailored explicitly for students enrolled in master’s programs. She also wants to continue publishing her works, specifically bolstering solo research endeavors, and serve on the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences board either as a trustee or on the executive board. In addition, she wants to expand her independent consulting business. Married with a daughter, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, writing short stories, watching films, and drawing in her free time.

LinkedIn
Marymount University

Education

2019     Ph.D., Criminology, Law & Society, George Mason University

Dissertation Topic: Gatekeepers of the Juvenile Justice System: Intake Officers, Decision Making & Racial Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System.

2005     MA in Forensic Psychology, Marymount University

2003     BS in Psychology, Slippery Rock University

Research

  • Projects
    • Analysis of Public Safety as the Result of using the Detention Assessment Instrument
    • Elements of Coercive Control in High Control Groups: A Podcast Content Analysis
    • Evaluation of Law Enforcement Training on Cultural Competence, Trauma-Informed Care, and Officer Self-Care
  • Interests
    • Coercive Control
    • Informal Decision-Making
    • Juvenile Justice
    • Policy Implementation Science
    • Program Evaluation
    • Social Inequality
    • Trauma-Informed Care
    • Youth Risk Assessments
    •  

Publications

 

Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts

Pfeifer, H., Button, D.M., Summers, M., Porter, C.M., & Dmello, J. (2023). Academy of criminal justice sciences’ doctoral student summit: A model of professional development. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 1-23.

Porter, C. (2023). Intimate partner violence: Victim demographics. IN Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence. Springer Nature

Porter, C. (2023). Adolescent-limited (AL) developmental trajectory, rape/coercion. IN Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer Nature

Porter, C. (2023). Life course persistent (LCP) behavior, rape/coercion. IN Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer Nature

Crites, E., Porter, C. & Taxman, F. S. (2015). Community Corrections. In APA handbook of forensic psychology, Vol. 2: Criminal investigation, adjudication, and sentencing outcomes. Cutler, Brian L. & Zapf, Patricia A. (Eds), pp. 437-449. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association.

Rudes, D. S., Viglione, J., Lerch, J., Porter, C., & Taxman, F. S. (2014). Build to sustain: Collaborative partnerships between university researchers and criminal justice practitioners. Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law & Society, 27(3).

Rudes, D. S., Viglione, J. & Porter, C. (2013). Using quality improvement models in correctional organizations. Federal Probation, 77, p. 69. 

 

Practitioner Oriented Reports

Mackey, K. & Porter, C. (2021). Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Statistical Report. Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Fairfax County, VA. Available on Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Website: FY20 JDRDC Annual Report

Mackey, K. & Porter, C. (2020). Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Statistical Report. Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.  Fairfax County, VA. Available on Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Website: FY19 JDRDC Annual Report

Porter, C. & Todd, C. (2019). Illuminations Training Evaluation. (Technical Report). Available on Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Website: Illuminations Training Evaluation Report

Mackey, K. & Porter, C. (2018). The Parent Project in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (Research Report). Retrieved from Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Website: Parent Project Research Report

 

Conference Presentations

Porter, C., Pfeifer, H., & Button, D. (2024, June). Professional development support and needs of doctoral students. A paper presented at the annual meetings of the Northeast Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Gettysburg, PA.

Pfeifer, H., Button, D.M., Summers, M., Porter, C.M., & Dmello, J. (2024, March). The ACJS Doctoral Student Summit: Effectiveness and Impact. A paper presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL

Porter, C., (2024, March). But I Don’t Want to Teach. Accepted at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL as part of the Doctoral Summit.

Pfeifer, H., Button, D., Porter, C., & Summers, M. (2024, March). Navigating the Job Market. Accepted at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL as part of the Doctoral Summit.

Dmello, J., Leal, W., & Porter, C. (2024, March). Instructional Technology as a Pedagogical Tool. Accepted at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL as part of the Doctoral Summit.

Porter, C. (2024, March). Audience-Driven Research Communication! Accepted at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL as part of the Doctoral Summit.

Porter, C., Goldberg, V., Olghare, A. & Stevens, H.  (2023, March). But I Don’t Want to Teach? Exploring Careers Outside of Academia. Presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, National Harbor, MD as part of the Doctoral Summit.

Porter, C., Hibdon, J., & Stevens, H.  (2022, March). But I Don’t Want to Teach? Exploring Careers Outside of Academia. Presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV as part of the Doctoral Summit.

Porter, C. (2021, May). Overview of Fairfax County’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Presented to the Fairfax Bar Association, Family Law Group.

Porter, C. (2019, March). Juvenile Offenders, Intake Officers & the Decisions that Affect Them. Presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

Ealley, A. & Porter, C. (2019, March). Sentence Outcomes When Using Risk/Need Assessment Tools in Juvenile Court. Presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

Mackey, K. & Porter, C. (2019, March). Letting Data Speak: Using Surveys to Examine Experience and Guide Change. Presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

Porter, C. & Balascio, J. (2018, March). What the Fidelity? Presented at the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice Court Service Unit Leadership Symposium, Charlottesville, VA.

Meyer, K. S., Rudes, D. S., Porter, C., & Viglione, J. (2014, November). Troubles & violations: Juvenile probation officer ideology and behavior in a reform era. Presented at the meeting of the American Society of Criminology, San Francisco, CA.

Porter, C. & Viglione, J. (2013, November). Reforming Probation: Policy & Practice Implementation Within a Juvenile Justice Agency. Presented at the American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Porter, C. & Viglione, J. (2013, May). Examining Evidence-Based Policies (EBPs) within a Juvenile Justice Agency. Presented at the Law and Society Annual Conference, Boston, MA.

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