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Kenya Brumfield-Young, M.L.S., M.S.C.J.

Associate Professor; Internship Coordinator
Criminology and Criminal Justice

Courses Taught

Intro to Criminology & Criminal Justice; Juvenile Justice and Delinquency; Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System; Ethics in the Administration of Justice; Ethics in Criminal Justice; Internship Seminar; Wrongful Conviction Internship

Education

  • Ph.D. Candidate Social Work, Saint Louis University
  • M.L.S., Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 2014
  • M.S., Criminal Justice, Columbia College, 2012
  • B.A., Psychology, Columbia College, 2011
  • B.A., Criminal Justice, Columbia College, 2009

Research Interests

  • Wrongful Convictions
  • Juvenile Delinquency, Prevention, and Justice Risk Dependency in Youth with Chronically Delinquent Behaviors Exposure to Trauma and Its Impact on Justice-Involved Youth Crime
  • Policy and Court Systems
  • Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality in the Criminal Justice System

Honors and Awards

  • 2025: SLU Leadership and Service Awards - Faculty Excellence Award
  • 2024: Dr. Norman A. White Award for Engaged Scholarship and Service
  • 2024: Dr. Jonathan C. Smith Faculty/Staff Appreciation Award
  • 2023: Outstanding Professor of the Year - School of Social Work, Criminology/Criminal Justice MACCJ Program
  • 2022: Spirit of the Billiken Award
  • 2019-2022: Outstanding Professor of the Year - School of Social Work, Criminology/Criminal Justice BACCJ program

Professional Organizations and Associations

  • 2020 - 2025 Alpha Phi Sigma, - Criminal Justice Honor Society – Chapter Co-Advisor
  • 2020 - 2025 Alpha Phi Sigma, - Criminal Justice Honor Society – Chapter Advisor
  • 2020 - Present Juvenile Justice Coalition – Missouri Chapter - Member
  • 2019 - Present American Society of Criminology - Member
  • 2017 - Present Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) – Member

Community Work and Service

Professor Brumfield-Young's dedication to the community and the criminal justice system is impactful. Collaborating closely with community members, as well as local and state policymakers, she has played a key role in developing trauma-informed strategies and frameworks that address the deeply rooted social factors contributing to crime, particularly community trauma. She also works alongside legal teams, affected families, and community partners, focusing on wrongful conviction cases where individuals claim actual innocence, juvenile justice policy, and other critical criminal justice issues.

As the supervisor of the Saint Louis University Wrongful Conviction Review Internship, Professor Brumfield-Young mentors students as they work on cases in partnership with Innocence Projects. This experience allows students to engage directly in investigating wrongful convictions while advocating for individuals seeking post-conviction relief.

Her academic research focuses on issues such as wrongful convictions, juvenile delinquency, and the intersection of trauma and crime. Professor Brumfield-Young examines how structural factors, including race and socio-economic status, impact criminal justice outcomes. She also investigates the role of policy interventions in reducing recidivism and addressing systemic inequalities within the justice system.

Beyond wrongful convictions, she collaborates with organizations such as the St. Louis County Family Court to analyze juvenile delinquency trends, evaluate systemic responses, and address the disproportionate representation of minority groups within the criminal justice system. Through these efforts, she works to develop data-driven policies that promote fairness and long-term solutions to youth crime.

Professor Brumfield-Young has also been involved in initiatives that support rehabilitation and community safety. She has worked with reentry programs aimed at reducing recidivism and improving access to resources for individuals returning to the community after incarceration. Through her varied and significant contributions, Professor Brumfield-Young paints a picture of a holistic approach to criminal justice, one that emphasizes prevention, rehabilitation, and commitment to community collaboration.