Ericka Adams

Ericka Adams is an Associate Professor in the Department of Justice Studies at San Jose State University's College of Social Sciences. Her research focuses on Caribbean criminology (particularly in Trinidad and Tobago), gang violence, street crime, automated record clearance, and criminal record impacts. She serves as Co-PI for a study examining automated record clearance effects and evaluates violence prevention programs like Project REASON.

Research Focus

Dr. Adams investigates two interconnected domains:

• Criminal justice reforms: Automated expungement impacts on employment, housing, and community reintegration
• Violence intervention: Implementation and efficacy of public health models (e.g., Cure Violence) in high-crime Caribbean communities

Her Trinidadian upbringing and firsthand exposure to escalating gang violence motivate this work.

Publication Trends

Recent articles (2020-2025) demonstrate three key themes:

• Criminal record policies: Legislative processes, expungement outcomes, and gendered reintegration narratives
• Caribbean violence: Community policing adaptations, gang intervention strategies, and resident resilience
• Research methodologies: Ethical recruitment of criminal justice-impacted populations

Her scholarship consistently connects structural inequalities with lived experiences in marginalized communities.

Professional Activities

No awards, student advisees, or lab affiliations are documented. Current projects emphasize policy-relevant outcomes for automated record clearance legislation and violence prevention frameworks.