Research Team

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    Dr. Carolyn Greene

    WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

    Dr. Greene received her PhD in Criminology from the University of Toronto, Centre for Criminology and Socio-legal Studies.  She is presently an Assistant Professor at Wilfrid Laurier's Public Safety Program. In addition to teaching, Carolyn has an active and expansive research program, undertaking extensive qualitative and quantitative studies on public perceptions of the criminal justice system, drugs and drug use, victimization, and experiences of homelessness. Passionate about collaborative research, Carolyn works closely with colleagues and students from universities across Canada, the U.S. and Australia. She is committed to research with impact, regularly sharing her findings with stakeholders, government officials, law enforcement, community organizations, advocacy groups, and the media.

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    Dr. Marta-Marika Urbanik

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    Dr. Marta-Marika Urbanik is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Sociology at the University of Alberta. An award winning researcher and university teacher, she specializes in conducting street-based research with ‘hard to reach’ populations, including gang members, drug dealers, people who use drugs, and unhoused persons. She presently co-leads the largest criminological study on homelessness in Canadian history, and routinely shares her expertise with community organizations, government officials, the media, and law enforcement. Dr. Urbanik also dedicates her time to serving as an expert witness for relevant court cases.

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    Dr. Katharina Maier

    UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG

    Dr. Katharina Maier holds a Law Degree (J.D. equivalent) from the University of Münster (Germany) and a Master’s degree and PhD from the Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto. As a qualitative researcher, she is interested in examining issues around punishment and penal governance, prisoner re-entry and penal supervision, policing, urban poverty and social marginality, and the work of front-line penal actors. Her work has been supported by SSHRC, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, and other funding sources. She has published on issues pertaining to prison violence, prisoner re-entry, homelessness, and health in Theoretical Criminology, Punishment & Society, Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, and Social Problems, among other venues.

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    Adi Keynan

    UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG

    PROJECT MANAGER: Manitoba Branch

    Adi Keyan is an undergraduate student in Psychology at the University of Winnipeg. Her research focuses on the complex intersections between trauma and marginalization, with particular interest in childhood trauma, intimate partner violence, and intergenerational trauma. Adi is also passionate about exploring the structural and psychological dimensions of substance use, houselessness, and urban encampments. Her work seeks to deepen understanding and inform compassionate, trauma-informed approaches to care and policy.

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    Eleese Sealy

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    PROJECT MANAGER, Alberta Branch

    Eleese Sealy is a Master's student at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the Impact of Race-Culture Assessments (IRCAs) pre-sentencing reports, which aim to recognize and address societal racial biases affecting Black offenders. As this is a new tool, questions have emerged regarding its legitimacy and interpretation in sentencing, particularly concerning the limitations inherent in legal interpretation. Access her LinkedIn Profile

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    Abbey Petrun

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    ASSISTANT MANAGER

    Abbey Petrun is a recent Sociology graduate from the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the criminalization of homelessness and how post-incarceration experiences contribute to cycles of street involvement. Abbey is particularly interested in evaluating how social services, especially those centred on mental health support, fall short in helping individuals break out of this cycle. Her work aims to inform policies that promote holistic and trauma-informed support systems for justice-involved and unhoused populations.

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    Rayna Martel

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    Rayna Martel has recently completed a degree in Criminology at the University of Alberta. Her research interests center on the intersection of drug markets, policing, and organized crime. She is particularly interested in how the availability and quality of drugs, including the prevalence of lacing, affect street dynamics and community safety. Rayna also studies the challenges and supports involved in gang exit strategies, the role of correctional officers in the prison system, and the evolving impact of policing on street-level interactions and drug trafficking networks. Access her  LinkedIn Profile

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    Kyana Lenz

    WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    Kyana Lenz is an undergraduate student in her final year at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she primarily studies Criminology and Law. Her research focuses on the legal and human dimensions of crime and punishment, with a particular interest in incarceration, the role of rehabilitation in the Canadian prison system, and the systemic roots of forced labour and human trafficking. She is also exploring how these issues intersect with firearms trafficking and global regulatory frameworks. Access her  LinkedIn Profile

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    Bilguundari (Dari) Enkhtugs

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    Dari is completing a  PhD in Sociology from the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the intersections of vulnerability, exploitation, and institutional response. She has a strong interest in human trafficking, particularly the systemic factors that enable its persistence and the effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies. Her work also explores the criminalization of homelessness, online forms of victimization, and the role of community supervision in reintegration and harm reduction. Dari is committed to using evidence-based research to inform policy and practice that promotes justice and community safety.

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    Katheryn Lee

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    Katheryn Lee is an undergraduate Criminology student at the University of Alberta. Her research interests explore the complex dynamics between police and communities, with a focus on strategies that foster trust and accountability. She is also deeply engaged in examining how trauma and victimization shape interactions with institutions such as law enforcement, healthcare, and the justice system. Additionally, Katheryn investigates the structural determinants such as poverty, housing insecurity, and systemic inequality that contribute to crime and homelessness.

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    Kalias Biijman

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    Kalias Biijman is a Master’s student in Sociology at the University of Alberta. Their research focuses on the lived realities of individuals residing in encampments, with particular attention to how these spaces are managed and governed by municipalities and institutions. Kalias is especially interested in the survival and coping methods employed by unhoused individuals in response to systemic marginalization. Through their work, Kalias seeks to contribute to more humane, rights-based approaches to encampment policy and support systems.