Research & Projects
Research & Projects
Embedded Files
Illustrative representation; percentages are not empirical findings.
Parental Incarceration, Youth & Systems of Support
Parental Incarceration, Youth & Systems of Support
Graduate Research · Policy Inquiry · Spring 2026
From Stigma to Support: Institutionalizing Rights for Children of Incarcerated Parents was developed through The Promise of Peacebuilding (PAX 645) with Dr. Gloria Rhodes at Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Full Policy Brief
The policy brief examines the often-overlooked impacts of parental incarceration on children and youth and considers how rights-based, relational, community-based, and restorative approaches can strengthen institutional and community responses.
This inquiry reflects a core area of my continuing scholarship, informed in part by lived experience of parental incarceration. I am continuing to develop this work toward deeper research, writing, and publication.
Current Research Range & Publication Activity
Current Research Range & Publication Activity
My current work develops questions that have emerged through years of restorative justice practice into deeper scholarly inquiry. Current areas include self care and regulation; power and difference, trauma-responsive practice, preparation and pre-process inquiry, relational presence, incarceration and family systems, organizational culture, and restorative policy and process design.
Several projects originated in graduate research at Eastern Mennonite University and are now being developed toward journal publication, applied frameworks, policy inquiry, and longer-form scholarship.
Explore Emerging Frameworks & Publications within this site at the named tabs.
European Forum for Restorative Justice · Tallinn, Estonia · 2024
Poster presentation, Utilizing Therapy Dogs in Restorative Justice: The Power of the Human-Animal Bond in Supporting Diversion Processes, concept created by Molly Leach and with support from Patricia LaTaille. The project presented Colorado-based restorative casework and explored the role of therapy dogs in supporting trauma-responsive restorative processes.
Tallinn, Estonia at the bay of the Baltic Sea, 2024 during attendance and poster presentation at the European Forum For Restorative Justice Symposium.
Pamplona, Spain (2023) presentation at the European Forum For Restorative Justice Seminar: "Restorative Justice in Colorado" featuring Ret. Senator Pete Lee (D-CO). Ms. Leach stewarded the presentation and shared a historical perspective during the session, with policy and best practices documentation, the video with Ret. Senator Lee, for distribution.
Pamplona, Spain (2023) 12th International European Forum For Restorative Justice Seminar.
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