Victoria Rivera Laugalis

Victoria Rivera Laugalis serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology and Justice at Loyola University New Orleans since 2024. Holding a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University, she brings extensive field experience from juvenile detention supervision and criminal investigation to her academic role.

• Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University

Her research critically examines juvenile and emerging adult sentencing, focusing on the harshest punishments through legal, developmental, and biopsychosocial lenses. She investigates youth justice outcomes, correctional practices, and sentencing policy to promote equitable treatment. This work bridges criminological theory with practical applications in justice settings, emphasizing the unique vulnerabilities of young offenders within the legal system.

Dr. Rivera Laugalis actively disseminates her findings through publications in Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, Criminal Justice Review, and Criminal Justice and Behavior, and presents at major conferences including the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. She welcomes collaboration with students, academics, practitioners, and community stakeholders to advance justice reform.