J Z Bennett

Dr. J.Z. Bennett is an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Bennett is a Temple Made student, earning his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Temple University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Center for Urban Education (CUE) at the University of Pittsburgh. 

Dr. Bennett’s passion for research was cultivated as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. His primary research interests include juvenile life without parole (JLWOP), developmental and life-course criminology, community-university partnerships, and the relationships between education and crime/delinquency. Dr. Bennett serves as the co-founder of the Urban Youth Leadership Academy, a program designed to equip the next generation of leaders. He has also been actively involved with The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program® since 2016 and is a member of the Graterford Think Tank. 

Grant: #Arnold Ventures Investigators:Laura Abrams, J.Z. Bennett, Jeffrey Ward 10-01-2022 -12-31-2025 Second Chances: A National Outcomes Study of Safe and Equitable Decarceration Among People Serving Juvenile Life Without the Possibility of Parole Role:Co-PI 861,692 Active Type:Grant Level:National

Grant: #P116Y230013 Investigators:Bennett, Juwan; Campbell, Christina; Leverso, John; Smith, Paula 10-01-2023 -09-30-2026 Department of Education Transitioning Gang-Impacted Youth to Higher Education Opportunities through the Urban Youth Leadership Academy Role:Collaborator 987871.00 Awarded Level:Federal