PhD in Criminology, Law and Society
Sydney Fay, 2024
Describe your dissertation, thesis, or capstone:.
My dissertation examined how the Internet has influenced offline sex offending against youth, specifically the distance offenders travel to commit crimes in child sexual grooming cases. Using federal court data, I compared the behaviors and characteristics of groomers who met victims online versus offline. Findings suggested that online groomers engaged with victims longer and traveled farther to abuse them offline, which has important implications for crime prevention policy.
How did you choose your specific area of study?
I was curious about how online socialization behaviors might lead to offline crimes, particularly against youth, who are frequent users of the internet. I decided to compare the journeys to crime of online and offline groomers to examine the utility of putting cyberspace on the map as a potential starting point in an offender’s journey to the crime scene.
How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?
I learned that there is room for improvement in even the best work, a sentiment that has made me a better communicator, manuscript writer, and critical thinker. I also appreciated that faculty often gave applied assignments, such as writing book reviews, articles, or book chapters, some of which I published, so I could further my career before I graduated.
Which accomplishments during your time at Mason are you most proud of?
One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of during my time at Mason was developing innovative data collection methods for my dissertation. The methods I designed not only enhanced the quality and reliability of my research, but also provided a framework, protocol, and actual database for other researchers to use to further our understanding of the impact of online victimization on offline crime.
Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career?
After an informational interview, Professor David Weisburd put me to work at the Center for Evidence-based Crime Policy in the year leading up to my enrollment. Over the last several years, Professor Weisburd has become my mentor, advisor, and Chair. He’s provided me with so many opportunities, including the incredible experience of traveling to Israel to present our research. Professors Allison Redlich and Jin Lee also supported my ideas and were wonderfulcommittee members. Finally, I think I speak for all of us when I say I would have been lost without the oracle that is Brielle DeMatteo.
What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?
Efficiently explore potential dissertation topics as soon as you can. For example, if you take an ethics course and decide you are interested in judicial decision-making, write about the ethical implications of bench trials for your final paper if that’s an option. Once you have a sense of that topic area, you can decide whether you want to pursue it for your dissertation while simultaneously fulfilling a course requirement. Also, have fun with your cohort and classmates—many of them will be your forever friends and future colleagues, so get to know them.
What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?
I plan to continue in my role as Associate Director of Research and Intelligence at a national non-profit combatting human trafficking, but I am looking to expand my scope and scale following graduation. I’m eager to apply my expertise in quasi-experimental methods, quantitative analysis, and innovative data collection methods to new opportunities in research-focused non-profits dedicated to improving lives through social science research. Ultimately, I aspire to direct research projects as a principal investigator, combining my ongoing commitment to mentorship with my passion for evidence-based research.