Jennifer Silcox

Background

About Jennifer Silcox

Dr. Silcox is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Childhood and Youth Studies at King's University College at Western University. She has a strong interest in how discourse around youth crime influences youth criminal legal policy and legislation. Her research combines legal studies, sociology and criminology, centering on age, gender, and race as she analyzes how media portrayals both reflect existing and influence development of future social inequalities and prejudice, as well as how youth negatively experience the legal system due to systemic barriers based on age, class, gender, and racial/ethnic identities and statuses. She also researches youth substance use education in Ontario, and youth mental health and access to mental health care. Her work has appeared in policy, criminological and sociological outlets and addresses how youth (particularly, girls and youth of colour) face disparities, inequalities, and injustices navigating Canada’s youth court system and how violent youth (both Canadian and American) are portrayed in national news. She has appeared on CBC News, CBC’s Canada Tonight, The National, CBC Atlantic, among other outlets to share her expertise on marginality, social inequality, crime, and youth violence.