Research and Practice Expertise

Clinical and policy-oriented social work in the criminal legal system, with a special focus on women and trauma-responsive care. 

BIO:

Dr. Kenney began her appointment at the California State University, Sacramento School of Social Work in the fall of 2019. She teaches classes on forensic social work, advanced behavioral health, DSM diagnosing, and diversity and inclusion within social work. Locally and internationally, Dr. Kenney facilitates various trainings within the community for practitioners and volunteers related to trauma-responsive care in working with justice-impacted individuals and families, immigrants and refugees (most specifically from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran), unhoused populations, and ICU patients. She was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama from 2013 to 2019. Prior to obtaining her PhD at the School of Social Work at Columbia University, she worked as a social worker in jails, prisons, community hospitals, and substance abuse and mental health treatment programs in Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Dr. Kenney also has a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota.

 

Courses Taught at Sac State

• Forensic Social Work with Adults 
• Social Work and Diverse Populations: Theory and Practice
• New Developments in Psychodiagnosis
• Behavioral Health Specialization: Community Mental Health
• Undergraduate and Graduate Students' Field Instruction/Field Seminar 

Courses Taught at Other Universities

University of Alabama Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL:

• Drugs, Crime, and Policy 
• Gender and Crime 
• Honors Oppression and Social Injustice 
• Social Inequality in the Criminal Justice System 
• Victimization 
• Oppression and Social Injustice 
• Social Welfare Policy and Services 

University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Pittsburgh, PA:

• Mental Health and Public Policy 
• Generalist Foundations of Social Work Practice 
• Human Behavior: Mental Health 
• Intimate Partner Violence 

Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY:

• Models of Intervention 
• Chemical Dependency 
• Social Work in the Criminal Justice System 
• Clinical Case Evaluation 

 

Publications

1. Kenney, J.L., & Hien, D. (2023). Arrest risks for women with substance use disorders. The Smith College Studies on Social Work, 9(2), 266-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/00377317.2023.2189467
2. Kenney, J.L., & Dolliver, M.J. (2022). Time to bail out: Examining gender differences in the length of pretrial detention using survival analysis. Justice System Journal,4(3), 203-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/0098261X.2022.2042432
3. Hopson, L.M., Kenney, J.L., Church, W., & Beck, J. (2022). An exploration of adjudicated girls’ school experiences and implications for academic success. International Journal of Social Work, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.4148/2161-4148.1060
4. Dolliver, M.J., & Kenney, J.L., & Reid, L.W. (2021). Assessing the relationships between past victimization, perceived risk of future victimization, and controversial criminal justice policies using structural equation modeling. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 33(1), 74-98. https://doi.org/10.1177/08874034211018235
5. Kenney, J.L. (2020). Women who abuse substances and how they perceive their interactions with the police. Social Work in Public Health, 35 (1-2), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2020.1731642
6. Yang, F., Maynard, Q.R., Young, S. R., Kenney, J.L., Barber, B., Boltz, L., Womack, B., Young, T.L., Nelson-Gardell, D., & Zhang, X. (2019). Qualitative research skills acquisition within social work doctoral education using project-based learning. Qualitative Social Work, 19(5-6), 864-881. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325019881190 
7. Kenney, J.L., & Young, S. (2018). Using experiential learning to help students understand the impact of food insecurity. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(1), 64-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2018.1491356
8. Dolliver, M., Kenney, J.L., Reid, L., & Prohaska, A. (2018). Examining the relationship between media consumption, fear of crime, and support for controversial criminal justice policies using a nationally representative sample. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 34(4), 399-420. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986218787734
9. Dolliver, D., & Kenney, J.L. (2016). Characteristics of drug vendors on the tor network: A cryptomarket comparison. Victims and Offenders, An International Journal of Evidence-based Research, Policy, and Practice, 11(4), 600-620. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2016.1173158
10. Traylor, A.C, Williams, J.D., Kenney, J.L., & Hopson, L.M. (2016). I get by with a little help from my friends: Relationships between adolescent well-being and friend support and behavior. Children and Schools, 38(3), 179-186. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/cdw021
11.  Campbell, A. N., Tross, S., Hu, M., Pavlicova, M., Kenney, J.L., & Nunes, E. V. (2011) Female condom skill and attitude: Results from a NIDA Clinical Trials Network gender-specific HIV risk reduction study. AIDS Education and Prevention, 23(4), 329-340. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2011.23.4.329

 

Community-Based and Professional Trainings

Facilitator. (February 12, 2024). Trauma and Healing. In-person workshop for immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seeking Afghan women and men. NorCal Resist, Sacramento, CA.

Facilitator. (August 29, 2023; February 14, 2023; July 26, 2022; May 17, 2022; November 9, 2021; August 23, 2021; March 30, 2021; January 19, 2021). Mental Health. Webinar facilitated for immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking individuals. International Rescue Committee, Sacramento, CA.

Trainer. (August 24, 2023). Healing from Trauma. Half-day international training for 15 case managers, program leaders, program officers, trainers of trainers, and formerly incarcerated peer mentors currently working with women who were incarcerated in prison in Kenya. Clean Start Africa. Nairobi, Kenya.

Facilitator. (May and June 2023). Trauma, Historical Trauma, and Strategies of Care. Two-hour sessions (two separate sessions with women and men) with Afghan refugees living in the Sacramento region. NorCal Resist, Sacramento, CA.

Co-Presenter. (April 29, 2023). Trauma-Informed Care in the ICU and across the Inpatient Spectrum of Critical illness. This three-hour course had an enrollment of 80 social workers, nurses, researchers, and physicians from 6 different states across the United States and Canada. National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter.

Facilitator. (September through October 2022). Working with Trauma in Community. 4 online workshops for Sacramento Steps Forward volunteers with expertise related to homelessness. Sacramento Steps Forward, Sacramento, CA.

Co-Presenter. (July 29, 2022). Trauma-Informed Care in the ICU and Across the Inpatient Spectrum of Critical Illness. This three-hour course had an enrollment of 116 social workers, nurses, researchers, and physicians from 15 different states across the United States. National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter.

Trainer. (July 28, 2022 and July 21, 2022). Consequences of Trauma and How We Can Support Those Experiencing Its Effects. Webinars facilitated for local community organizers and activists. NorCal Resist, Sacramento, CA.

Trainer. (September 22, 2021). How Can We Support People Who Have Experienced Trauma? Webinar facilitated for local community organizers and activists. NorCal Resist, Sacramento, CA.

Facilitator. (July 20, 2021 and February 4, 2021). Substance Use Disorders and Trauma: How We Can Help. Two Learning Circle webinars facilitated for staff across this national organization. International Rescue Committee. International Organization.

Trainer. (November 17, 2015). Trauma-Informed Treatment for Women. Provided information to trauma-responsive care and strategies for community substance use treatment clinical professionals. Phoenix House, Tuscaloosa, AL.

 

Community and Professional Service

Invited Journal Manuscript Reviewer. (December 2023 to present). International Journal of Women’s Health.

Invited Journal Manuscript Reviewer. (September 2023 to present). Symbolic Interaction.

Invited Journal Manuscript Reviewer. (May 2023 to present). Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation.

Invited Journal Manuscript Reviewer. (November 2020 to present). Smith College Studies in Social Work.

Organizer. (January 2021 to present). NorCal Resist, Sacramento, CA –– provided leadership and organizational support for monthly brake-light clinic for low-income drivers and food distribution to families, facilitate trainings for members related to trauma-responsive strategies when working with refugees and asylum seekers and individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, facilitate gender-specific trainings on trauma and historical trauma with female and male Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.   

Organizer. (July 2022 to present). Decarcerate Sacramento, Sacramento, CA – support advocacy efforts to reduce police violence and the Sacramento County Jail inmate population by diverting county funding towards mental health and housing support, respond to and support jail hotline calls from inmates in Sacramento County Jail and their family members, support organization of jail vigil to call attention to inmate deaths within the Sacramento County Jail, engaged in leadership role in ongoing hotline manual development and training.

Symposium Discussant. (January 2023). Achieving community stability for justice-involved youth and adults. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.

Evaluator. (August 2020 to August 2022). Yolo County Probation Department Swift, Certain, and Fair Program, Yolo County, CA.

Co-Evaluator. (January 2021 to September 2021). West Sacramento Police Department Co-Responder Model. Supported evaluation and final report writing to West Sacramento Police Department. West Sacramento, CA.

Invited Journal Manuscript Reviewer. (September 2017 to May 2019). Criminal Justice and Behavior.

Invited Session Moderator. (January 2015). Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.

 

Community and University Program Evaluation Reports

Kenney, J.L., Shenouda, M., Salvatierra, S., & Darbrudy, T.S. (2023). Education Equity Survey and Report: Social Work Student Experiences of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Report prepared for the California State University, Sacramento College of Health and Human Services Education Equity Committee and School of Social Work to survey student experience of diversity and assess perceptions of equity and belonging within the University and School of Social Work.

Kenney, J.L., & Arnold, S.N. (2022). Swift, Certain, and Fair Program 2018-2021 Implementation Evaluation. Report prepared for the Yolo County Probation Department to evaluate a collaborative problem-solving US Department of Justice-funded probation program designed to reduce recidivism among probationers within Yolo County, CA.

Potter, A., Baiocchi, A., & Kenney, J.L. (2021). City Innovate Challenge Evaluation Proposal: West Sacramento Police Department Co-Responder Model. Report prepared for the West Sacramento Police Department to assess the implementation and outcomes of a co-responder police response model in West Sacramento, CA funded by the National Science Foundation.

 

Grant Funding

Principal Investigator. (May 2022 to October 2023). $10,000

Funder: Faculty Senate’s Research and Creative Activity (RCA) Subcommittee

Offices of Research, Innovation, and Research Development

California State University, Sacramento

“Justice-Involved Women’s Perceptions of the Criminal Legal System.”                                

Awarded to support a qualitative research project to explore the experiences of women who have been involved in the criminal legal system in Sacramento, CA                  

Principal Investigator. (August 2020 to August 2022). $46,535

Funder: Yolo County Probation Department

“Swift, Certain, and Fair Evaluation Project”

Provided to evaluate the implementation of federal program Swift, Certain, and Fair within the Yolo County Probation Department. Final report was submitted to Yolo County Probation Department in October 2022.                                                                                                                                                       

Co-Principal Investigator. (November 2018 to May 2023). $1.9 million

Funder: Alabama Department of Corrections

 “Alabama Department of Corrections Women’s Risk Needs Assessment Validation Study”

Co-PI’s: Leah Cheatham, Jane Daquin, Nicholas Derzis, Matthew Dolliver, Christine Fleming, Lesley Williams Reid, and Peggy Shippen

Awarded to conduct a validation of the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) instrument within the particular context of the Alabama Department of Corrections facilities.                 

Co-Investigator. (January 2021 to September 2021). $10,735

Funder: City of West Sacramento

“Assessing the Efficacy of the Police-Social Services Co-Responder Model for Community-Wide Mental Health”

Co-PIs: Arturo Baiocchi and Andrew Potter

Granted to provide an initial evaluation of the Sacramento Sheriff’s homeless outreach team, using a co-responder policing model. The final report, including recommendations for a more in-depth evaluation, was provided to the West Sacramento Police Department in September 2021.                                                                                                                                                                               

Principal Investigator. (May 2021 to August 2021). $5000

Funder: Health and Human Services Summer Faculty Fellowship

College of Health and Human Services

California State University, Sacramento

“Stories from Women in Jail”

Provided to analyze qualitative data collected in a rural county jail in Alabama regarding the experience of women in jail, specifically those who were in jail because they were unable to pay their bail. A manuscript was submitted to the College of Health and Human Services on August 20, 2021.                                       

Principal Investigator. (September 2015 to December 2017). $6000

Funder: University of Alabama’s Research Grants Committee

University of Alabama

"Criminal Justice Risk and Protective Factors for Women in Substance Abuse Treatment"

Monies from this grant were used to research the criminal justice-related protective and risk factors of women in substance abuse in-patient treatment programs.

 

National Conference Presentations

1. Kenney, J.K., Dolliver, M.J, & Clipper, S. (January 2024). Bailing out: Using survival analysis to examine intersectional race and gender differences in the length of pretrial detention. Paper presented at the Society of Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2. Kenney, J.K., & Dolliver, M.J. (November 2022). Time to bail out: Examining gender differences in the length of pretrial detention. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
3. Dewey, S., Kenney, J.L., & Cheatham, L. (January 2022). Perceptions of culpability and fairness: Perspectives from a Deep South women’s prison. Paper presented at the Society of Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
4. Kenney, J.L., & Ackerman, E. (January 2022*). The childhood trauma experiences of women in jail. Paper presented at the Society of Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
5. Dolliver, M.J., Kenney, J.L., & Reid, L.W. (November 2021). Examining the relationships between victimization, perceived risk of victimization, and controversial criminal justice policies. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
6. Cheatham, L., Kenney, J.L., Daquin, J., Dolliver, M.J., Hall, A., Derzis, N., Holder, A., Mautz, K., Foster, D., Roe, V., Lambert, E., Shippen, N., & Reid, L.W. (January 2021). Assessing the reliability of the women’s risk needs assessment within an Alabama state women’s prison. Paper presented at the Society of Social Work and Research Annual Conference, online due to COVID precautions.
7. Kenney, J.L., & Dolliver, M.J. (January 2020). Time to bail out: Examining the gender differences in the length of pretrial detention using survival analysis. Paper presented at the Society of Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
8. Dolliver, M.J., Kenney, J.L., & Reid, L.W. (November 2019). Assessing the relationship between fear of crime, risk of victimization, and support for CJS policies. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
9. Kenney, J.L. (January 2018). Why some women get arrested: Conversations with female substance abuse treatment residents. Poster presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Conference Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
10. Kenney, J.L. (January 2016). Teaching students about food insecurity through experiential learning. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Conference Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
11. Dolliver, D., & Kenney, J.L. (November 2015). Characteristics of drug vendors on the Tor Network: A cryptomarket comparison. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology Conference Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
12. Hartley, J., Kenney, J.L., Young, T., Young, S., Nelson-Gardell, D. (May 2015). Critical qualitative inquiry in social work education. Panel presentation at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Annual Conference, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
13. Kenney, J.L. (January 2015). Understanding the arrest experiences of women with co-occurring posttraumatic stress and substance use disorders. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Conference Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
14. Kenney, J.L., & Goshin, L. (January 2009). The effects of maternal incarceration on the health and development of young children. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
15. Kenney, J.L., & Campbell, A.C. (January 2008). Understanding what impacts female condom use skill: Findings from a NIDA prevention study. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.

 

Clinical Social Work Experience

Halfway House Manager – POWER, Pittsburgh, PA – June 2004 to August 2006 – Managed gender-specific halfway house for up to 25 women in early recovery from alcohol and other drug abuse, provided clinical supervision to staff, coordinate and monitor daily operations, supervise county and state audits, developed new programming and training to better serve residents and staff, guided integration of trauma-informed services into programming, supervised and trained Bachelors-level and Masters-level interns.

Social Worker – State Correctional Facility, Pittsburgh, PA – January 2003 to May 2004 – Assessed patients on prison acute psychiatric mental health unit, facilitated family meetings within the prison, facilitated depression group on unit, co-facilitated mood disorders group in general inmate population, provided individual therapy, facilitated discharge planning, supervised and trained Masters-level intern.

Behavioral Health Professional – St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA – August 2001 to October 2002 – Assessed patients in acute psychiatric hospital unit, facilitated family meetings, supervised discharge planning and case management, facilitated educational and treatment groups, supervised and trained Bachelors-level and Masters-level interns.

Supervisor of Counseling – The PROGRAM for Female Offenders, Pittsburgh, PA – September 2000 to July 2001 – Supervised seven counselors/case managers, facilitated substance use therapy group, provided outpatient therapy for justice-impacted individuals, completed funding report, supported program development for programs within the counseling department, supervised Bachelors-level interns.

Chemical Dependency Therapist – Recovery Resources – Cleveland, OH – March 1999 to April 2000 – Facilitated education and therapy groups for women and men both within the county jail and on probation, facilitated educational group for unhoused women in the community, provided outpatient therapy as part of County Probation Department and AIDS Task Force.

House Counselor – Scarborough House – Cleveland, OH – September 1999 to April 2000 –Facilitated weekly therapy group in a supportive housing environment for women in recovery from substance use disorders, completed substance use assessments.

Program Assistant – Wayside House – Minneapolis, MN – September 1995 to May 1998 –Provided twenty-four-hour support and assistance to halfway house residents; supervised medication dispensary, facilitated house meetings, administered urine screens, monitored daily activities.

 

Professional Associations

National Association of Social Workers - California Chapter

Society for Social Work and Research

National Organization of Forensic Social Work

 

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work – Columbia University - 2014

Dissertation: Understanding the arrest experiences of women with co-occurring posttraumatic and substance abuse Disorders: An application of General Strain Theory

Awarded the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Doctoral Fellowship (September 2006 to August 2007). Doctoral tuition funding provided to support practical biomedical research training and experience.

Master of Public Health – University of Minnesota, Master’s Thesis: Wayside House: An Evaluative Study - 1998

Master of Social Work – University of Minnesota - 1998

Bachelor of Philosophy of Interdisciplinary Studies, Cum Laude, Miami University - 1995