Eric Lambert

Research Interests:

Organizational behavior issues; organizational effects on criminal justice performance outcomes; death penalty attitudes; the effects of treatment interventions on institutional behavior and post-release behavior of convicted individuals; ethical behavior of criminal justice employees and students; measurement and structural equation modeling issues; criminal justice agency evaluation; the testing of criminological theories, particularly in different environments and sub-populations; correctional staff attitudes and behaviors; and correctional management models and the impact of the different models on quality of life issues for inmates and staff.

Research Activity:

Funded Grant Applications:

Linda Keena and Eric Lambert (Co-Investigators).  “Building a Partnership with Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Department of Corrections.”  Southeastern Conference Faculty Travel Grant.  Amount Requested: $525.24.  Outcome: Approved.  Award Amount: $525.

Eric Lambert and Linda Keena (Co-Investigators).  “How the Work Environment Affects Work Staff of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.”  Southeastern Conference Faculty Travel Grant.  Amount Requested: $288. Grant proposal submitted in April of 2014.  Outcome: Approved.  Award Amount: $288.

Brad Smith (Principal Investigator), Jennifer Wareham, and Eric Lambert (Co-Investigators).  “Community and Organizational Influences on law Enforcement Retention and Turnover.”  American Statistical Association (ASA)/Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Small Grants Research Program for Analysis of Crime\ and Justice Data.  Amount requested: $32,469.  Grant proposal submitted in April 2009.  Outcome: Approved for funding.  Award Amount = $32,469.

Barbara Benjamin (Principle Investigator), Lois Ventura, Michael Bryant, John Laux, Jane Cox, Paula Dupuy, Celia Williamson (Co-Investigators), and Eric Lambert (Co-Investigator and main  writer, along with Barbara Benjamin, of white paper for the grant application).  “Problems and Needs of Mothers Entering the Criminal Justice System: The Impact on Children.”  Submitted as a discretionary grant through the National Institute of Justice.  Requested Award Amount = $748,436.  Grant time frame: Summer 2005 to Spring 2007.  Award Amount = $493,323.  Funded by Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Eric Lambert and Nancy Hogan.  “Evaluation of the Mecosta County Sheriff Department’s School Resource Officer Program for the 2002/2003 School Year.”  Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department.  Award Amount = $500.00.  Grant time frame: March 2003 to June 2003.

Eric Lambert.  “Issues Concerning the Development of a Forensic Science Major and/or Minor.”  Team Timme Grant from the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Faculty Development, Ferris State University.  Award Amount = $6,200.00.  The grant helped pay for development of a presentation at the 2003 annual conference of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Boston and travel to the conference for four faculty members.  Grant Time Frame: September 2002 to March 2003.

Nancy Hogan and Eric Lambert (added after the fact).  “Correctional Staff Job Satisfaction at a Privately Run Maximum Security Prison.”  Ferris State University, Faculty Research Grant.  Award Amount = $1,493.00.  Grant time frame: June 2002 to January 2003.

Eric Lambert and Nancy Hogan.  “Evaluation of the Mecosta County Sheriff Department’s School Resource Officer Program.”  Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department.  Award Amount = $500.00.  Grant time frame: March 2002 to August 2002.

Eric Lambert.  “Evaluation of the Mecosta County Sheriff Department’s School Resource Officer Program.”  Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department.  Award Amount = $500.00.  Grant time frame: April 2001 to June 2001.

Eric Lambert (Principal Investigator), Alan Clarke, and Terry Nerbonne (Co-Investigators).  “Attitudes of Ferris State University Students Towards the Death Penalty: A Test of the Marshall Hypothesis.”  Ferris State University, Faculty Research Grant.  Award Amount = $1,493.00.  Grant time frame: April 2000 to February 2001.

Eric Lambert, Shannon Barton (Co-Investigators), and Nancy Hogan (Principal Investigator). “Evaluation of the CHANGE Program and Its Impact on Inmates and Staff at the Michigan Reformatory.” National Institute of Justice Grant.  Award Amount = $49,051.00.  Grant time frame: January 2000 to December 2001.

Eric Lambert, Tamsey Andrews, Susanne Chalder, Nancy Cooley, (Co-Investigators), and Michelle Johnston (Principal Investigator).  “Status of Academic Service-Learning in Michigan.”  Learn and Serve Michigan, Michigan Department of Education.  Award Amount = $8,400.00.  Grant time frame: January 2000 to September 2000.

Eric Lambert, Nancy Hogan, and Shannon Barton.  “Evaluation of the Mecosta County Sheriff Department’s School Resource Officer Program.”  Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department.  Award Amount = $500.00.  Grant time frame: November 1999 to June 2000.

Eric Lambert.  “The Need for Forensic Science Education Among Criminal Justice Students: The Development and Expansion of a Forensic Science Minor at Ferris State University.  Team Timme Grant from the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Faculty Development, Ferris State University.  Award Amount = $9,985.00.  Grant time frame: December 1999 to April 2000.  The grant allowed for a survey of Michigan law enforcement agencies on the perceived forensic needs of current personnel as well as applicants.  The grant also paid for the travel to the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 2000 conference to present the results and to attend presentations to aid the faulty involved in a new forensic science minor at Ferris State University.

Eric Lambert, Nancy Hogan (Co-Investigators), and Shannon Barton (Principal Investigator). “A Systemic Approach to Addressing Domestic Violence in Rural Areas: Domestic Violence Task Forces and Community Interventions.”  Ferris State University, Faculty Research Grant.  Award Amount = $5,312.00.  Grant time frame: April 1999 to December 1999.

Eric Lambert, Shannon Barton (Co-Investigators), and Nancy Hogan (Principal Investigator). “Undergraduate Academic Dishonesty: An Examination of Behaviors and Perceptions at Ferris State University.”  Ferris State University, Faculty Research Grant.  Award Amount = $1,743.00.  Grant time frame: April 1999 to February 1999.

Eric Lambert, Nancy Hogan (Co-Investigators), and Shannon Barton (Principal Investigator). “Evaluation of the CHANGE Program and Its Impact on Inmates and Staff at the Michigan Reformatory.”  Ferris State University, Dean’s Research Grant.  Award Amount = $636.00.  Grant time frame: April 1999 to December 2000.

Submitted but not Funded or Pending Grant Applications:

Donna Sleman, Shannon Barton, Kenneth Games, Jennifer Schriverm Nancy Hogan, and Eric Lambert.  “Examining Prison Critical Incidents Influence on Physiologic and Perceptual Indicators of Officer’s Stress and Health.”  National Institute of Justice - Research and Evaluation in Safety, Health, and Wellness in the Criminal Justice System call for proposals.  Subaward Amount Requested: $152,813.  Outcome: Not Funded.

Richard Forgette (Principal Investigator) and Eric Lambert (Co-Investigator).  “The One Mississippi Project – A Plan to Prevent Violent Extremism among Socially-Marginalized Groups and to Promote Community Resilience in Mississippi.”  The Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Grant Program.  The Department of Homeland Security.  Amount Requested: $396,373.  Outcome: Not Funded.

David May (Principal Investigator), Stacy Haynes (Co-Investigator), Eric Lambert (Co-Investigator), and Linda Keena (Co-Investigator).  “NIC Opportunity Number 16CS19: Measuring, Evaluating, and Reducing Stress Among Corrections Employees.”  Amount Requested: $39,902.  Outcome: Not Funded.

Jennifer Wareham (Principal Investigator), Eric Lambert, Brad Smith, and Irshad Altheimer (Co-Investigators).  “Perceptions of Social Problems and Social Control among Hispanic Residents of Southwest Detroit.”  Building and Enhancing Criminal Justice Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships solicitation (CFDA No. 16.560). National Institute of Justice.  Amount requested: $112,405.   Grant proposal submitted in July 2009.  Outcome: Not Funded.  Revised grant submitted in April 2010.  Outcome: Not Funded.

Angela Reyes (Principal Investigator), Eric Lambert, Irshad Altheimer, Jorge Chinea, and Ethriam Cash Brammer de Gonzales (Co-Investigators).  “An Evaluation of a Comprehensive Model for Improving Outcomes for Hispanic/Latino Gang Members and At-Risk Youths in Southwest Detroit.”  Crime and Justice Research solicitation (NIJ-2009-2007).  National Institute of Justice.  Requested Award Amount: $296,000.  Grant proposal submitted in April 2009.  Outcome: Not Funded.

Shannon Barton (Principal Investigator), Nancy Hogan, and Eric Lambert (Co-Investigators).  “Impact of the CHANGE program on Youthful Offenders and Staff at the Michigan Youth Correctional Facility.”  Requested Award Amount: $99,907.  Grant proposal submitted in October 2000.  Outcome: Not Funded.

Eric Lambert (Principal Investigator) and Morris Jenkins (Co-Investigator).  “Evaluation of Conflict Resolution with Inmate and Student Participants (CRISP) Program.”  Grant Submission to the National Institute of Justice, Under the Solicitation for Crime and Justice Research,

Offender Programs and Treatment.  Requested Award Amount = $98,790.  Grant proposal submitted in September 2004.  Outcome: Not Funded.

Morris Jenkins (Principal Investigator), Shanhe Jiang and Eric Lambert (Co-Investigators).  “Conflict Resolution with Inmates and Student Participants (CRISP).”  Submitted for a Program of Academic Excellence grant at the University of Toledo.  Requested Award Amount = $17,331.36.  Grant proposal submitted in April 2005.  Outcome: Not Funded.

Other Research/Grant Activity:

From 1997 to 2001, I served as a Research and Statistician Consultant for Lowery and Associates, Inc., Barryton, Michigan, on several grant projects, including evaluation of a MI/Cup grant for 1998-1999, MI/Cup grant for 1999-2000, and a Eisenhower “Rails to Trails” grant from 1998-2000.

I worked on a research project for the Bureau of Research and Evaluation, New York Division of Criminal Justice Services concerning recidivism of youths discharged from the care and custody of the New York Division for Youth.  I worked on the project from February 1996 to August 1997.  The project was funded by a $250,000 plus grant from the State of New York.

Research Contributions and Acknowledgments:

Bruce Frederick.  (1999).  Factors Contributing to Recidivism Among Youth Placed With the New York State Division for Youth.  Research Report, Office of Justice Systems Analysis, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.  I received several acknowledgments for helping with the research project on which the final report was based upon. 

Conference Chair and/or Discussant:

Chair, Panel 2 (Criminal Justice Issues) at the 2000 annual Midwestern Criminal Justice Association meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Session 63 (The Reality of the Death Penalty and Public Safety Lawsuits) at the 2002 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Anaheim, California.

Chair, Session 123 (Views of College Students on Social Issues and Punishment: Are Criminal Justice Majors Different?) at the 2002 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 116 (Important Issues in Corrections: Recognizing the Needs of Correctional Staff and Inmates) at the 2003 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts.

Moderator, Roundtable 261 (Issues Concerning the Development of a Forensic Science Major and/or Minor) at the 2003 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts.

Chair, Panel 7 (Challenges in Substance Abuse Services for Youths) at the 2003 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 25 (Attitudes of Students Concerning Criminal Justice Issues) at the 2003 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 115 (Private Prison Concerns) at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Denver, Colorado.

Chair, Panel 44 (Perspectives on Individual Crimes) at the 2004 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chair, Panel 289 (Prison Privatization) at the 2004 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chair, Panel 9 (Criminal Justice Education II) at the 2004 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Moderator, Panel 7 (Correctional Staff and Management Issues) at the 2005 Eighth annual meeting of the Ohio Criminal Justice Research conference in Columbus, Ohio.

Chair, Panel 20 (Corrections I) at the 2006 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 17 (Job Commitment, Organizational Citizenship, and Work Environment: Research on Correctional Staff) at the 2007 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois. 

Chair, Session 382, (Understanding and Alleviating Prisoner Misconduct and Violence) at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chair, Panel 3 (Corrections: The Stressors of Rehabilitation . . . The Risk of Burnout) at the 2008 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Event 313 (Prison Staff Perceptions of the Institutional Environment) at the 2009 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts.

Chair, Event 331 (Jails and Corrections Officers) at the 2009 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts.

Chair, Panel 12 (Identifying Hot Places of Crime and Perception of the Victims) at the 2009 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 20 (Prison and Probation Work) at the 2009 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Event 106 (The Effects of Correctional Employment) at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Chair, Event 60 (The Effect of Work on Correctional Staff) at the 2010 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in San Diego, California.

Chair, Panel 32 (Working in Corrections: Issues Affecting Correctional Staff) at the 2010 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 15 (Working in Corrections: Issues Affecting Correctional Staff) at the 2011 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 31 (Careers in CJ: Trajectories, Satisfaction, and Departmental Practices) at the 2011 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 3 (Rethinking Correctional Policy) at the 2012 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel 36 (Sentencing Biases - Examining Race and Gender) at the 2012 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Event 97 (Comparative/International Corrections) at the 2013 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Dallas, Texas.

Chair, Panel 7 (Gender and Law Enforcement) at the 2013 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Event 166 (Police Managers as Leaders and Motivators) at the 2015 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Orlando, Florida.

Chair, Panel 48 (Stress among Criminal Justice Practitioners) at the 2015 meeting of the Southern Criminal Justice Association in Charleston, South Carolina.

Chair, Panel 24 (Correctional Staff Perceptions Across a Multitude of Themes) at the 2016 meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Area XI: Global Perspectives / 65: Cross-National Comparisons (Cross-National Survey Data: Toward Explanations for Social Attitudes and Views on Crime) at the 2016 meeting of the American Society of Criminology in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Chair, Panel 373 (Corrections: Personnel and Management Issues) at the 2018 meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Chair, Panel 26, (Correctional Staff Perceptions across a Multitude of Themes) at the 2018 meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Chair, Panel Area 41: Jails and Prisons (Correctional Staff Issues) at the 2018 meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chair, Panel 079 (Comparative Studies on Contemporary Issues in Corrections) at the 2019 meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Association in Baltimore, Maryland.

Chair, Panel 222 (Correctional Staff: A Valuable Resource) at the 2019 meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Association in Baltimore, Maryland.

Chair, Panel 1301 (Comparative Research on Policing--Practice and Theory) at the 2019 meeting of the American Society of Criminology meeting in San Francisco, California.

Discussant, Panel (The Effects of Workplace Variables on Correctional Staff Across The Globe) at the 2019 meeting of the American Society of Criminology meeting in San Francisco, California.

Chair, Panel 42 (Corrections, Correctional Organizations, and Inmate Experiences) at the 2019 meeting of the Western Society of Criminology meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Conference Duties:

Program Chair of the 2010 annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association in Chicago, Illinois.

Committee member for the 2010 ACJS annual meeting under the topic area of Correctional Personnel: Recruitment, Selection, Training, and Retention.