Jennifer S. Wong

BIOGRAPHY

Jennifer Wong holds an MA in Program Evaluation and a PhD in Policy Analysis. Her research interests lie primarily in crime prevention and intervention, particularly in relation to evidence-based programs and crime control policy. Wong is an applied researcher who is concerned with producing knowledge that is directly useful for those making decisions about policies, programs, and practices. Her work employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to study issues of crime prevention and intervention, as well risk factors for delinquency, crime, and recidivism. Additional areas of research focus are meta-analysis and media representation of crime.

Wong’s recent work has examined gang prevention/intervention programs, intimate partner violence intervention programs, a sexual violence prevention campaign, the impact of prior deportation on recidivism among illegal immigrants, and meta-analyses on aftercare/resettlement programs, wilderness therapy programs, and dating violence prevention programs. Recent publications can be found in Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and the Journal of Experimental Criminology.

AREAS OF INTEREST

Crime prevention/intervention; program evaluation; policy analysis; quantitative research methods; mixed methods; meta-analysis and systematic review; recidivism; intimate partner violence; media representation of crime.

EDUCATION

BA (UBC)
MA (Claremont)
MPhil, PhD (RAND)

NOTE FOR POTENTIAL GRADUATE STUDENTS:

Please contact to inquire about potential supervision.

Selected publications

Wong, J. S., & Lee, C. (Online First, May 2026). Reducing gang involvement: Summary and findings of gang exiting interventions and recommendations for future strategies. Criminal Justice Policy Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/08874034261438013
Wong, J. S., & Georgoulis, H. (Online First, April 2026). Game misconduct: A meta-analysis of sexual violence prevention programs targeting student athletes. Aggression and Violent Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2026.102152
Wong, J. S., & Lee, C. (Online First, April 2026). The wraparound approach for youth gang intervention: Impacts on negative police contacts. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108970
Wong, J. S., & Beck, N. (Online First, Mar 2026). Promoting anti-gang attitudes and beliefs in high school students: An evaluation of the End Gang Life program. Children & Youth Care Forum. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-026-09931-6
Lee, C., & Wong, J. S. (2026). Decisions, decisions: The impact of an afterschool group mentoring program on adolescents’ decision-making skills. Contemporary School Psychology, 30, 41-56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-025-00560-9
Wong, J. S., Nielsen, J., & Neilsen, K. (2026). The inside scoop: Facilitator perspectives on an afterschool group mentoring program for youth. Child and Youth Care Forum, 55, 757-782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-025-09902-3
Wong, J. S., & Nielsen, J. (Online First, Dec 2025). Settling in: The role of immigrant generation in school, anxiety, and peer-related acculturation challenges for seventh grade students. Youth & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X251392245
Lee, C. & Wong, J. S. (Online First, Nov 2025). Joining forces: Operational strengths and challenges of a joint police-civilian gang intervention and exiting program. Police Practice and Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2025.2594776
Wong, J. S., & Lee, C. (Online First, June 2025). Finding the way out: A process evaluation of a gang intervention and exiting program. Justice Evaluation Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2025.2517548
Bouchard, J., & Wong, J. S. (Online First, Jan 2025). Now and then: Examining students’ concerns about the primary-secondary school transition. Journal of Adolescent Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584241312705

Selected Awards and Grants

2023 Wong, J. S., & Rowan, Z. “The role of SD41 Youth Section Officers (YSOs) in gang prevention and intervention in schools.” City of Burnaby/Civic Innovation Lab. Role: Principal Investigator.
2023 Wong, J. S., & Beck, N. “The role of the Burnaby RCMP Gang Enforcement Team in gang intervention and disruption.” City of Burnaby/Civic Innovation Lab. Role: Principal Investigator.
2023 Wong, J. S., Lee, C., & Beck, N. “The effects of aftercare interventions on recidivism in youth offenders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” The Youth Endowment Fund and The Campbell Collaboration. Role: Principal Investigator.
2022 Best Paper Award for 2022: International Criminal Justice Review - In recognition of Wong, J. S., & Hickman, L. J. (2022). Rearrests of noncitizens subsequent to immigration removal from the United States. International Criminal Justice Review, 32(1), 88-106.
2021 Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - In recognition of academic excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service.

Recently taught courses

CRIM 103 - Psychological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behaviour
CRIM 220 - Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRIM 340 - Criminal Justice Policymaking and Policy Analysis
CRIM 441 - Preventing Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: Designing & Evaluating Programs
CRIM 865 - Program Evaluation

Courses

This instructor is currently not teaching any courses.

School of Criminology