Katlyn Casagrande

Katlyn Casagrande is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Colorado Mesa University, affiliated with the Department of Criminal Justice in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD and MS in Criminal Justice from Texas State University and a BS in Biological Anthropology from Utah State University.

Her research lies at the intersection of forensic anthropology and criminal justice, focusing on corrections, mental health in incarcerated populations, risk assessment, forensics, policing, and evidence-based policy. With over a decade of experience working with human remains detection dogs alongside law enforcement and civilian organizations, she brings applied expertise to her academic work. She has facilitated training at forensic research facilities comparable to CMU's FIRS facility and has collaborated with law enforcement on gun violence reduction programs.

Her recent publications analyze mental health treatment access in prisons, racial disparities in care, psychiatric disorders in jails, and police response during natural disasters. These works reflect a strong trend toward addressing mental health inequities and improving institutional responses within the criminal justice system using mixed-methods research.

Scientific Awards:

• No scientific awards mentioned in the provided text.

Dr. Casagrande is deeply committed to student success and advising, helping students discover their passions and achieve their academic and professional goals. While specific grant details are not listed, her applied research with law enforcement and correctional systems suggests active engagement in practice-oriented projects and potential external funding. She emphasizes the real-world application of research to inform policy and improve outcomes.

She is involved with forensic anthropology research applications, particularly through work related to human remains detection and training at facilities like CMU’s FIRS, indicating active participation in a specialized research team or lab environment focused on forensic science and criminal justice innovation.