Profiles

J. Michael Vecchio, PhD

About

Dr. Mike Vecchio is a Lecturer of Criminal Justice & Criminology and Associate Graduate Faculty at Loyola University Chicago. He received his PhD in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis as well as his BS and MS in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University. His research interests include youth violence and victimization, youth gangs, as well as the causes, consequences, and responses to victimization.

He serves on the Executive Board of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association (MCJA) as the 1^st Vice President (2024-2025).

Previously, Dr. Vecchio has served as a Professional Lecturer at DePaul University (2021–2022), an Assistant Professor and Associate Graduate Faculty at Loyola University Chicago (2014–2021), as well as an Assistant Professor at Western Carolina University (2013–2014). He has also worked on two National Institute of Justice (DOJ) funded youth violence studies – the National Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program and A Multi-method, Multi-site Study of Gang Desistance – as well as on an Office of Minority Health (HHS) project (2017–2021).

• Google Scholar
• Research Gate

Degrees

2014       PhD, Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Missouri-St. Louis

2008       M.S.C.J., Criminal Justice, Bowling Green State University

2007       B.S.C.J., Criminal Justice, Bowling Green State University

Research Interests

• Community & Social Justice
• Youth Gangs, Violence, & Victimization
• Research Evaluation & Management
• Causes, Consequences, & Responses to Victimization
• Qualitative Methods

Courses Taught

• CJC 101 – Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJC 201 – Theories of Criminal Behavior
• CJC 203 - Policing
• CJC 302 – Juvenile Justice System
• CJC 352 – Gangs
• CJC 366 – Crime Prevention
• CJC 371 – Victimology
• CJC 402 – Theories of Criminal Behavior (Graduate)

Selected Publications

Recent publications include:

Vecchio, J. Michael, and Dena C. Carson. 2023. Understanding the role of violence and conflict across the gang tenure. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 21(1): 27-43.

Carson, Dena C., and J. Michael Vecchio. 2015. Leaving the gang: A review and thoughts on future research. In The Handbook of Gangs, eds. Scott H. Decker and David C. Pyrooz, New York: Wiley-Blackwell.

Taylor, Terrance J., and J. Michael Vecchio. 2014. Youth Gangs: An Overview of Key Findings and Directions for the Future. In Violent Offender: Understanding and Assessment, eds. Christina A. Pietz and Curtis A. Mattson, New York: Oxford University Press.

Vecchio, J. Michael. 2013. Once bitten, thrice wise: The varying effects of victimization on routine activities and risk management. Deviant Behavior 34(3):169–190.

Recent Presentations:

Vecchio, J. Michael, Stemen, Don D., and Dave E. Olson. Sentencing the emerging adult: The effects of age, race, and gender on sentence outcomes in Illinois. American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, November 2018. Atlanta, GA.

Vecchio, J. Michael. The Role & Influence of Gangs in Youth Behavior & Violence. Civitas ChildLaw Center – School of Law, Loyola University Chicago, February 2018. Chicago, IL.

Vecchio, J. Michael. Stash, duck, and dash: Strategies to elude the police. American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, November 2016. New Orleans, LA.

Vecchio, J. Michael. Youth gang joining and leaving: Motivations and methods. 'Community Gang Education and Awareness, Course II', Cook County State's Attorney's Office – Community Justice Center-South Side & Chicago Police Department – 22nd District, April 2016, Chicago, IL.

Owens, Jennifer Gatewood, and J. Michael Vecchio. Is gang victimization more detrimental?: An exploration of gang violence using the NCVS. American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, November 2015. Washington, D.C.

Esbensen, Finn-Aage, Carson, Dena C., Vecchio, J. Michael, and Dana Peterson. The Desistance Study. American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, November 2014. San Francisco, CA.