Student Researcher Q&A: Kean University Senior Jessica C. Apai

Kean University student Jessica C. Apai is majoring in political science with a second major in sociology. The senior from Pennington spoke with Kean Research about her work with the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research, where she was named the Watson Scholar. 

Q. What is innovative about your research? 

The work we do at the Watson Institute is innovative and serves as a resource for legislators around New Jersey. We work on projects of social and political relevance with the hope of informing public policy.  

I worked on a project that analyzed a document from 2015, Final Report of The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. It contains six pillars of recommendations – building trust and legitimacy, policy and oversight, technology and social media, community policing and crime reduction, training and education, and officer wellness and safety. Each pillar has multiple individual and policy recommendations for law enforcement, and my job as a student researcher is to look at these recommendations and see how and where they have been implemented throughout New Jersey and the country. We will be hosting a symposium to talk about the policy recommendations and changes with local law enforcement personnel, experts and community members.  

Q. How is your work distinct from the work of your supervisor or principal investigator? 

As a student researcher, I have been responsible for finding different publications and relevant articles and analyses to help support the principal investigators. 

As the Watson Scholar, I’ve received an opportunity to start a fellowship at U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman’s office. This is a unique opportunity because I will be able to work in both the district and D.C. offices, focusing on casework in the district office and legislative work in the D.C. office, starting in the spring. 

Q. What has been your role so far in developing research ideas and carrying them forward? 

I have been able to assist in projects such as the one relating to the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. One pillar I focused on was officer health and wellness, which included the mental health of officers. I had to find examples of mental health initiatives for law enforcement officers in New Jersey and came across a few articles about Captain Bill Walsh of the Voorhees police department. I was able to call and speak with him about the projects he created – Active Bystander for Law Enforcement and Multi-Agency Peer Support Team.  

His story was eye-opening. He had two friends and colleagues who were officers, who committed suicide. These incidents affected him deeply and led him to study officers’ mental health and how to effectively address mental health issues to prevent these sorts of tragedies. These conversations led me to understand how pervasive mental health issues among officers were, and how important it is to address them. It is one thing to see alarming statistics regarding suicide rates, but to hear a personal story is a completely different way to put it in perspective. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for Captain Bill Walsh and the work he does.  

Q. What has been the impact of your research? 

​​​Projects like the 21st-century Policing research will be turned into a symposium. NOBLE, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, requested this research​​. The symposium will create conversations where law enforcement officers and executives can share their experiences and take in the recommendations. With members of law enforcement and the Urban Mayors Association expected to be present at the symposium, we hope it can help spark positive changes. 

Q. How will this opportunity help you achieve your long-term career plans? 

I was very excited to join the Watson Institute because it has so many well-educated leaders and a variety of departments addressing important subjects such as health policy, environmental issues and education. I would like to be a lawyer, possibly an immigration lawyer, or study constitutional law or civil rights. I'm also very interested in public service. I now have the opportunity to work within a congressional office. Currently, I am in the congresswoman’s district office working with constituent services and casework primarily tied to federal immigration agencies. I have learned so much about the immigration system and processes. It helps me feel more assured about pursuing a career in law and has made me consider immigration-related law much more.  

Q. Kean is New Jersey’s urban research university. Does your planned research serve urban communities? 

A big part of the 21st Century Policing project is related to procedural justice and fair and unbiased policing. There have been many instances and practices over time that have hindered the public’s relationship with the police and disproportionately affected underserved communities. ​​Many of the recommendations touch on internal policies, such as revisions to use-of-force policies, that police departments may use to create a more fair and transparent system. It also covers training recommendations addressing calls that law enforcement officers are experiencing more frequently, like crisis intervention concerning mental and behavioral health, as well as substance abuse.