Research Interests: Race and Justice, Victimization, Victims of Violence, Wrongful Convictions, Criminal Justice Policy, and Issues Affecting Youth and Young Adults. 

Mariel Delacruz (she/her/ella) is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Criminal Justice at Temple University. A native of North Philadelphia born to Dominican parents, Mariel is the first in her family to pursue higher education. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, Psychology, and Sociology from Cabrini University and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University-Camden, where she co-authored and published research in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Prior to joining Temple, Mariel worked as an adjunct instructor and held various roles in civil service, advocacy, policy, and research. She is currently the Director of the Victim Services Unit at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Both in her academic and applied work, she is committed to uplifting the experiences of those most impacted by injustices. Additionally, Mariel is a co-founder New Jersey Innocence Project, affiliated with Rutgers-Camden Law School.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Ward