Lauren R.
Shapiro, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Psychology (Cognitive-Development); Rutgers University of New Jersey (1990)
Developmental differences in children's ability to produce structurally coherent and linguistically cohesive personal narratives and stories.
M.S. in Criminal Justice (Law); Indiana State University (2009)
When does disparity mean discrimination? An examination of defendant race, juror race, and race-stereotypical crimes on juridical decisions.
M.S. in Experimental Psychology; Ohio University (1985)
Family environment as a mediator in the maintenance of behavioral changes one year after a moral intervention program.
B.A. Dual Degree in Psychology; Early Childhood Education; University of Buffalo (1983)
Certificates
2024 John Jay College/CUNY.
Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Employees.
Human Subjects Research.
2023 Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa (Federal Police Building)
Certificate: Federal Policing—Strategic Engagement and Awareness (FP-SEA).
2018 Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa (Federal Police Building)
Certificate: First Responder—Terrorism Awareness Program core
2008 Cass County Family Court, Fargo, ND
Certificate: Child Custody Investigator (2008)
2005 Shawnee County Court, Topeka, KS
Certificate: Special Education Advocate, Topeka, KS
1999 Emporia State University, Emporia, KS
Certificate: Video production and editing
1996 Broward County Court, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Certificate: Court Appointed Special Advocate. Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dr. Lauren R. Shapiro is a Full Professor at the Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration. She has a Doctorate in Philosophy from Rutgers University, specializing in Cognitive Developmental Psychology, a Masters in Science from Indiana University in Criminal Justice specializing in Law, a Masters in Art from Ohio University in Experimental Psychology, and undergraduate degrees in both Early Childhood Education and in Psychology from University of Buffalo. From 2008-2009, she served as an Extern with the Honorable Ralph Erickson in the U.S. District Court of North Dakota, Fargo, and as an intern with the Fargo Police Department. Dr. Shapiro has done pro-bono work consulting with officials in the police, sheriff, and district attorney departments, attorneys, and psychologists, as well as in-service workshops for those who work with children, including child care and social service workers.
Dr. Shapiro has taught at a number of colleges and universities in 9 states (NY, NJ, NC, SC, FL, KS, ND, CO, OH) in the fields of Psychology, Human Development, Criminal Justice, and Security. She taught Criminal Justice courses as full time faculty at King Graduate School of Monroe College for several years prior to joining the Department of Security, Fire, and Emergency Management at John Jay College in the spring of 2015 as an Adjunct and as full-time faculty in the fall of 2015. Dr. Shapiro joined Law and Police Science in Fall 2025 and teaches a variety of courses relevant to the Security major and to the Cybercrime minor.
Dr. Shapiro's scholarship applies concepts in psychology and criminal justice to the areas of physical security and private investigation. In 2016, Dr. Shapiro co-published a book with Jones and Bartlett entitled, Multidisciplinary investigation of child maltreatment, with Dr. Marie-Helen Maras. She is a co-editor with Dr. Maras of the Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management, which covers multiple chapters ideal for students and new professionals (Online 2018-2020, Print version 2021). Dr. Shapiro wrote a book entitled, Cyberpredators and their prey (2023), that discusses interpersonal cybercriminals, their crimes, societal repercussions, laws, and cybersecurity preventative options. She has also published in a number of peer-reviewed academic journals, edited books and encyclopedias, online journals, and professional journals/magazines.
RESEARCH POSITIONS
2021 to 2023
Senior Personnel/Assessment Coordinator, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance: Economic, High-Technology, White Collar and Internet Crime Prevention National Training and Technical Assistance Program. Bureau of Justice Assistance BJA FY 21 Economic, High-Technology, White Collar, and Internet Crime Prevention National Training and Technical Assistance Program (O-BJA-2021-94006). PIs: Marie-Helen Maras and Adam Wandt.
DUTIES: Attended weekly meetings; develop measures that evaluate webinars and courses and assess knowledge pre/post for courses; analyze evaluation and knowledge data; provide feedback to instructors regarding webinars and courses; and write results for reports.
2015 to present
Primary Investigator, Shapiro Lab, John Jay College.
Projects: Juvenile Criminal Stereotypes; Radicalization and Extremism in US; Social Media use by college students; Cyber-enabled imposter scams; Cyberpredators.
Past Research Assistants: D. Uyaguari; D. Jo; J-Y Mai; A. Douglas; L. Spencer; J. Bencivenga; S. Quashie.
Current Research Associates: Dr. Angela Crossman and Katarzyna Gershman.
August 1993 to July 1995
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Carolina Consortium on Human Development, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Supervisor: Dr. Peter Ornstein.
DUTIES: Attended weekly seminars for the Consortium on various semester topics, including assisted in organizing the Memory Seminar by contacting and making arrangements for presenters; worked on Dr. Ornstein’s research team conducting original research and assisting graduate students with their research.
September 1990 to August 1991
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; grant, Planning in the preschool years, awarded to Dr. Judith Hudson.
DUTIES: Collaborating on original research ideas and enacting research; coordinating projects for Dr. Hudson; supervising and training both graduate and undergraduate assistants for research projects; presenting research at conferences; data analysis; writing and publishing articles.
September 1989 to August 1990
PreDoctoral Project Coordinator, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; grant, Planning in the preschool years, awarded to Dr. Judith Hudson.
DUTIES: Supervising and training undergraduate assistants for research projects; getting participants; scheduling; collaborating on original research ideas and enacting research; presenting research at conferences; data analysis; writing and publishing articles.
May 1989 to August 1989
PreDoctoral Research Assistant, Institute for the Study of Child Development at the Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Supervisor: Michael Lewis.
DUTIES: Collecting data from families, IQ testing of children, and assisting in the analysis of research data examining giftedness and in development of cortical dominance and handedness.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERIENCE
Extern Honorable Ralph Erickson, U.S. District Court of North Dakota, Fargo, ND [April-May 2009].
DUTIES: Received training in using WestLaw on the computer; looked up precedents for ongoing drug trafficking cases; wrote report for case involving insurance; observed in court and in chambers; contributed to group meetings for new cases.
Intern Fargo Police Department, Fargo, ND [December 2008-March 2009].
DUTIES: Received training in every area of the department including Records (entered records for incident reports on computer); Property/Evidence (learned how to enter evidence in records, place in bins, put on shelf); Forensics lab (reviewed current cases); Arson (reviewed current and past cases with Fire Dept. Arson Investigator); Investigations (read reports for robbery; printed requested records and search warrants for suspects; entered data on computer; reviewed cases of abuse, rape, burglary; observed interrogations); Child Advocacy Center Forensic Team (interview of 3-year-old abuse victim; tour of center; spoke to physician and interviewers); Dispatch/911 (learned the codes and responses, directing officers/fire fighters/ambulance to incidents called in); Training Center (learned how officers are given training in defensive tactics, firearms, emergency vehicle operation, and investigation); Traffic (went with officers in field); K-9 Unit and Patrol (went with officers into field, including for morning briefing, arrest, routine patrol, bank robbery, EMT calling in DOA, domestic dispute; felony warrant etc.); CHARISM (Crime Prevention Unit to reduce property crimes and theft plus Business Watch to help stores reduce shrinkage; accompanied officers to school to meet with parents to discuss online safety for children; Cultural Liaison Office to work with officers helping refugees acclimate to the area); Front Desk (assisted in answering questions, directing people to departments; registering sex offenders in new addresses; observed police officer job interviews); Civilian (animal control, parking violations, messenger duty); SRO (high school officer did safety talks, drug searches, etc. in the high school). Also worked with City Prosecutor to learn the process for filing and prosecuting cases and observed in court.
PRO-BONO CONSULTING
Clients received advice regarding children’s abilities to testify about their own abuse, currently and in the past, children’s developmental physical capacity, and criminal identification procedures.
Bronx District Attorney’s Office, Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Unit, Bronx, NY [August 2012 to 2021]
Center of Change (Dr. Meriweather), Topeka, KS [2007-2008]
Lyon County Sheriff’s Department [2000-2008]
Emporia Police Department, Emporia, KS [2000-2008]
PRO-BONO TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Interviewing cases of possible child maltreatment requires an understanding of child development to determine whether victims are capable of providing probative information and ask questions in such a way as to not taint their testimony. These workshops are relevant to child protective service workers, child advocacy professionals, and law enforcement.
Shapiro, L.R. & Maras, M-H. (2011, October). Forensic Interviewing – Effective Techniques and Legal Aspects. Administration for Children’s Services Children’s Center, Bronx, NY.
Maras, M-H & Shapiro, L. (2011, August). Forensic Interviewing – Effective Techniques and Legal Aspects. Administration for Children’s Services Children’s Center, New York, NY.
Maras, M-H & Shapiro, L.R. (2010, November). Children as Eyewitnesses: Descriptions and Identification Accuracy. NYC Administration for Children’s Services, Bronx, NY.
Maras, M-H. & Shapiro, L.R. (2010, September). Forensic Interviewing. NYC Administration for Children’s Services, Bronx, NY.
Shapiro, L.R. (2005, September). How to bias eyewitness testimony (especially in children). Workshop conducted at Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Children are in the process of learning the appropriate way to interact with others. These workshops are directed at helping parents and teachers to learn the best methods for interacting with children and redirecting their behaviors effectively.
Shapiro, L.R. (2002, January). Effective Discipline: How to teach children. Workshop conducted for Child Care Providers, Emporia State University.
Shapiro, L.R. (2001, November). Effective Discipline: How to teach children. Workshop conducted for Child Care Providers, Emporia State University.
Shapiro, L.R. (1999, March). Behavior Modification and Discipline. Workshop conducted for the single parents’ group, Emporia State University, March.
Teachers need to learn the best way to maximize cognitive development for infants and children. These workshops provide guidance on how to design programs to enhance learning and memory.
Shapiro, L.R. (2006, November). Tuning into infants. In-service for Infant /Toddler Teachers conducted at Hope Street Academy, Topeka, KS, Nov.
Shapiro, L.R. (1995, June). Remembering Events: Classroom techniques for taking advantage of children’s knowledge. Workshop conducted at Glenwood Elementary School, Chapel Hill, NC.
Shapiro, L.R. (1995, May). Remembering Events: Classroom techniques for taking advantage of children’s knowledge. Workshop conducted at Seawell Elementary School, Chapel Hill, NC.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Certificate Course for the Center for Private Security and Safety
Forensic Interviewing and Investigations for Justice and Security Professionals
Lauren R. Shapiro and Marie-Helen Maras, Co-developed and Co-taught
- September 17, 2014
- December 4, 2015
Investigators of child maltreatment must work together to build a case, whether for family court, criminal court, or civil placement. Multiple perspectives from the forensic team tasked with the investigation can both hinder and enrich the process. The course is relevant for public and private investigators working in this area.
Learning Objectives:
- Illuminate some of these problems and facilitate ways that members of the team can work effectively together, despite seemingly different goals.
- Help investigators sort through relevant and irrelevant information from crime scenes and interviews.
- Teach best practices for conducting interviews.
- Learn the advantages and disadvantages of various investigation and interviewing techniques as indicated by scientific researchers and practitioners in the field.
- Practice investigation and interviewing techniques as a means of reinforcing what was learned in the course.
Undergraduate Courses:
Security: SEC101 Introduction to Security; SEC270/CSCI270 Security of Computers and their Data; SEC310 Emergency Planning; SEC320 Private Security: Trends and movements; SEC346 Retail and Commercial Security; SEC405 Seminar in Security Problems.
Cybercrime: SEC107 Introduction to Cybercrime: Theories and Applications; SEC217 Cybercrime Investigations; SEC307 Cyberpredators; SEC313 Cybervice; SEC317 Cyberfraud & Identity theft.
Graduate
Security: PMT 715 Analytical Methods in Protection Management (16 weeks); SEC 715 Analytical Methods in Protection Management (8weeks); SEC 740 Safety and Security in the Built Environment (8 weeks).
Recent Positions in Scholarly and Professional Organizations
2025 Editor, Editorial Board, Journal of Social Media Research.
2023-2025 Editor, Editorial Board. Journal of Applied Security Research.
Jan. 2023-Dec. 2024 Executive Counselor, Executive Board. Division of Cybercrime
for the American Society of Criminology.
Jan 2023-Dec. 2023 Member,Awards Committee. Division of Private Security &
Crime Prevention of Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
Jan. 2023-Nov. 2023 Member, Organizing Committee. 2023 Cybercrime and Cyber
Security Conference, Temple University.
Feb. 2022-Dec. 2025 Member, Outreach Committee, Division of Cybercrime for the
American Society of Criminology.
Feb. 2022-present Panel reviewer, Grants Committee. Office of Justice Programs.
Professional Memberships
Academy of Criminal Justice Society (ACJS); ACJS Division of Security & Crime Prevention; The American Society of Criminology (ASC); ASC Division of Cybercrime.
Ad Hoc Reviewer
Journals (August 1994-Present)
Applied Developmental Science; Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression; Child Development; Cognitive Development; Critical Studies on Terrorism; Developmental Psychology; Early Education and Development; Emporia State Research Studies; Journal of Research on Adolescence; Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology; Journal of Applied Security Research; Journal of Experimental Child Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, Memory; Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social Cognition; Psi Chi; Forensic Panel Letter (formerly, The Forensic Echo).
Textbooks (August 1996 to Present)
Allyn-Bacon, Harper-Collins, Prentice Hall, Routledge & Psychology Press, Houghton Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, Worth.
Peer-reviewed Books
(2) Shapiro, L.R. (2023). Cyberpredators and their prey. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. ISBN: 978-0-3675-5171-1
(1) Shapiro, L.R. & Maras, M-H. (2016). Multidisciplinary investigation of child maltreatment. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 978-1-4496-8698-7
Encyclopedia
Shapiro, L.R. & Maras, M-H. (Editors). (2021). Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management. Springer Publications. [158 Peer-reviewed Chapters] ISBN 978-3-319-70487-6 Doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70488-3 [Google scholar 3 citations]
Peer-reviewed Academic Journal Articles
(20) Shapiro, L.R. & Crossman, A.M. (2025). Social media platforms as enablers of college students’ experiences of cyber abuse. Journal of Social Media Research, 2(5), xx-xx. Doi: 10.29329/jsomer.48 https://jsomer.org/index.php/pub/libraryFiles/downloadPublic/21
(19) Shapiro, L.R. (2025). Cyber enabled imposter scams against older adults in the United States. In M. Button & V. Karagiannopoulos (eds.), Security Journal, Special edition: Preventing Fraud and Cybercrime in an Ageing Society and the Potential for Technology, 39 (Article 43). Doi: 10.1057/s41284-025-00483-3 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41284-025-00483-3
(18) Shapiro, L.R. (2023). Assessing legal needs: Is it time to criminalize swatting? Criminal Law Bulletin, 59(1), 95-114. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368450521_Assessing_Legal_Needs_Is_It_Time_to_Criminalize_Swatting
(17) Shapiro, L.R. (2022). Educating college students for loss prevention jobs: Understanding stereotypes and their role in surveillance and punishment decisions regarding juvenile shoplifters. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 75(1), 130-154. Special Issue: TVET race and ethnicity in the global south and north. Doi. 10.1080/13636820.2022.2075435 [online 11 May 2022] Click here for a copy of this article: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/Z7SC4YIHMMZPJ7GW9Y9F/full?target=10.1080/13636820.2022.2075435
(16) Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Effects of thief stereotype on bystander recall, interpretation, and punishment for male and female juvenile thieves. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 35(5), 1158-1170. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3842.
(15) Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Corporate liability of hotels: Criminal sanctions for online sex trafficking. Journal of Internet Law, 24(5), 3-10.
(13) Shapiro, L.R., & Maras, M-H. (2019). Women’s radicalization to religious terrorism: An examination of ISIS cases in U.S. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Special Issue: Islamic States Online Activity and Responses 2014-2017, 42(1-2), 88-119. https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2018.1513684
Reprinted: Shapiro, L.R., & Maras, M-H. (2020). Women’s radicalization to religious terrorism: An examination of ISIS cases in U.S. In M. Conway and S. Macdonald (Eds.), Islamic States Online Activity and Responses. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 9780367858650
(12) Shapiro, L.R., & *Brooks, E. (2018). Effects of cognitive schemas on children’s testimony for a simulated theft. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 57, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2018.05.002
(11) Shapiro, L.R., Maras, M-H., Velotti, L., Pickman, S., Wei, H-L, & Till, R. (2018). Trojan horse risks in the maritime transportation sector. Journal of Transportation Security, 11 (3-4), 65-83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12198-018-0191-3
(10) Maras, M-H., & Shapiro, L.R. (2017). Child sex dolls and robots: More than just an uncanny valley. Journal of Internet Law, 21(6), 3-21. ISSN: 10942904
(8) Shapiro, L.R. (2006). The effects of question type and eyewitness temperament on accuracy and quantity of recall for a simulated misdemeanor crime. Emporia State Research Studies, 43, 1-7; http://www.emporia.edu/esrs/vol43/vol43.htm.
(7) Shapiro, L.R. (2006). Remembering September 11th: The role of retention interval and rehearsal on flashbulb and event memory. Memory, 14, 129-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210544000006
(6) Shapiro, L.R. & *Purdy, T. (2005). Suggestibility and source monitoring errors: Blame the interview style, interviewer consistency, and the child's personality. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 19, 489-506. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1093
(5) Shapiro, L.R., *Blackford, C., & *Chen, C-F. (2005). Eyewitness memory for a simulated misdemeanor crime: The role of age and temperament in suggestibility. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 19, 267-289. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1089
(4) Shapiro, L.R., & Hudson, J.A. (2004). Effects of internal and external supports on preschool children's event planning. Journal of Applied Development Psychology, 25, 49-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2003.11.004
(3)*Hendrickson, V., & Shapiro, L.R. (2001). Cohesive reference devices in children’s personal narratives. Journal of Psychological Inquiry, 6, 17-22.
(2) Hudson, J.A., Shapiro, L.R., & Sosa, B. (1995). Planning in the Real World: Preschool children's scripts and plans for familiar events. Child Development, 66, 984-998.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1995.tb00917.x [
(1) Shapiro, L.R. & Hudson, J.A. (1991). Tell me a make-believe story: Coherence and cohesion in young children's picture-elicited narratives. Developmental Psychology, 27, 960-974.https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.27.6.960
Peer-reviewed Chapters in Edited Volumes
(4) Ornstein, P.A., Shapiro, L.R., Clubb, P.A., Follmer, A., & Baker-Ward, L. (1997). The influence of prior knowledge on children’s memory for salient medical experiences (pp. 83-111). In N.L. Stein, P.A., Ornstein, C.J. Brainerd, & B. Tversky (Eds.), Memory for everyday and emotional events. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
(3) Hudson, J.A., Sosa, B., & Shapiro, L.R. (1997). Scripts and plans: The development of children’s event knowledge and event planning. In S.L. Friedman & E.K. Scholnick (Eds.), Why, how, and when do we plan? The developmental psychology of planning (pp. 77-102). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
(2) Shapiro, L.R., & Hudson, J.A. (1997). Coherence and cohesion in children’s event narratives (pp. 23-48). In J. Costerman & M. Fayol (Eds.), Processing interclausal relationships in the production and comprehension of text. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
(1) Hudson, J.A. & Shapiro, L.R. (1991). From knowing to telling: The development of children's scripts, stories, and personal narratives. In A. McCabe & C. Peterson (Eds.), Developing narrative structure (pp. 89-136). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Peer-reviewed Encyclopedia Chapter Entries
(8) Gentile, A., & Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Security: Contract. In L.R. Shapiro and M-H. Maras (eds.), Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management (pp. 868-871). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_31-1
(7) Gentile, A., & Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Security: Hybrid. In L.R. Shapiro and M-H. Maras (eds.), Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management (pp. 872-874). Springer.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_293-1
(6) Gentile, A., & Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Security: Proprietary. In L.R. Shapiro and M-H. Maras (eds.), Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management (pp. 880-884). Springer.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_32-1
(5) Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Retail security: Employee theft. In L.R. Shapiro and M-H. Maras (eds.), Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management (pp. 825-833). Springer.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_235-1
(4) Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Retail security: Shoplifting. In L.R. Shapiro and M-H. Maras (eds.), Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management (pp. 833-839). Springer.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_56-1
(3) Shapiro, L.R. (2020). Gender stereotypes and criminal offending. In F. P. Bernat & K. Frailing (Eds.), Encyclopedia of women and crime, Vol. 2 (pp. 444-448). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-118-92979-7 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118929803.ewac0227
(2) Shapiro, L.R. (2020). Memory and child abuse. In F. P. Bernat & K. Frailing (Eds.), Encyclopedia of women and crime, Vol. 2 (pp. 691-699). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-118-92979-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118929803.ewac0347
(1) *Stamper, A., & Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Federal Emergency Management Agency. In L.R. Shapiro and M-H. Maras (eds.), Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management (pp. 369-372). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_68-1
Professional Journal and Magazine Articles
(11) Shapiro, L.R. (2021, June 8). Learning the red flag indicators of human trafficking in multitenant spaces. Security Management, online. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/online-exclusives/2021/learning-the-red-flag-indicators-of-human-trafficking-in-multitenant-spaces/
(10) Shapiro, L.R. (2021, February 2). Training security guards to identify sex trafficking victims. Security Management, online, https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/online-exclusives/2021/training-security-guards-to-identify-sex-trafficking-victims/
(9) Shapiro, L.R. (2020, December 8). 5 steps to training LP practitioners to be better shoplifting observers. Loss Prevention Magazine, Digital Channel. https://losspreventionmedia.com/5-steps-to-training-lp-practitioners-to-be-better-shoplifting-observers/
(8) Maras, M-H. & Shapiro, L.R. with Velotti, L., Pickman, S., Wei, H-L, & Till, R. (2018, April). On a sea of risk. Security Management, 62(4), 62-70. https://sm.asisonline.org/Pages/On-a-Sea-of-Risk.aspx
(7) Maras, M-H. & Shapiro, L.R. (2018, January 24). ‘Shadow” trade in child sex dolls should be banned, say Profs. The Crime Report. https://thecrimereport.org/2018/01/24/the-growing-danger-of-child-sex-dolls.
(6) Shapiro, L.R., & Maras, M-H (2017, April). Surveillance and stereotypes. Security Management, 61(4), 44-49.https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2017/04/surveillance-and-stereotypes/
(5) Shapiro, L.R. (2001, March). No expert for cross-racial id: Less reliability a common belief. Commentary in The Forensic Panel Letter (3 pp.).
(4) Shapiro, L.R. (2000). Cases in the headlines: Police Shootings, Community Controversy...Forensic Answers [Commentary on Weatherrred v State of Texas]. The Forensic Echo, June.
(3) Shapiro, L.R. (1998, August). Deja View? Photo bias and the eyewitness. The Forensic Echo, 2(9), 4-5.
(2) Shapiro, L.R. (1998, December). Two heads better than one. The Forensic Echo, 3 (1), 21.
(1) Shapiro, L.R. & Hudson, J.A. (1990, June). Coherence and cohesion in preschool children's picture-elicited narratives. Resources in Education, ED 317 284.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Recent Invited Talks and Workshops
2023 Assessing college students’ exposure to and recognition of cyber abuse on social media platforms using focus group discussions (November). Discussant, Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology, Featured panel: Qualitative methods in cybercrime research. Philadelphia, PA.
Cybercrime. Workshop presented to First Responders at the 1st Bi-Annual Information Session of Federal Policing Strategic Engagement and Awareness (FP-SEA), Enhancing Reporting to Police. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Headquarters, Ottawa, Canada.
2019 Learning to teach online: Applying concepts through discussion forums (January). Presented to JJC faculty at the Faculty Development Day meeting, NYC, John Jay College.
2016 Panel Discussion: Dealing with Trojan horses in the maritime sector (November) Co-presented with Drs. Maras, Till, Wei, Velotti, & Pickman at the Maritime Security Conference, State University of New York, Maritime College.
2015 Domestic Violence Workshop (March). Presented at a training session to new employees of Administration of Children’s Services in the Bronx, NY.
Recent Peer-reviewed Conference Presentations (*student)
Shapiro, L.R. (2026, March). Understanding why cyber-enabled imposter scams are so successful. Academy of Criminal Justice Science 63rd Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
Gershman, K., & Shapiro, L.R. (2026, March). Role of stereotypes on hiring young adult applicants previously incarcerated as juveniles. Academy of Criminal Justice Science 63rd Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
Shapiro, L.R. (2024, Nov.). Teaching 21st century digital skills to help users navigate the internet safely and civilly. In Ruby Farr and Julia Davidson (Chairs), Lightning Talk: Harnessing Education Strategies to Safeguard Youth from Cybercrime & Online Victimization in New & Emerging Technologies. American Society of Criminology, San Francisco, CA.
*Uyaguari, D., *Jo, D., *Mai, J-Y., & Shapiro, L.R. (2023, Nov.). Social media platforms as enablers of socializing and cyber abusing experiences. American Society of Criminology, Philadelphia, PA.
Shapiro, L.R. (2023, Nov.). Employment and criminal records: Perceived job risks, hiring, and recidivism of young adult applicants previously incarcerated as juveniles. American Society of Criminology, Philadelphia, PA.
Shapiro, L.R. (2023, Nov.). (Chair) Cybersex and Online Grooming. American Society of Criminology, Philadelphia, PA.
*Douglas, A., & Shapiro, L.R (2019, May). An analysis of societal stereotypes of juvenile offenders. Undergraduate Research Day, John Jay College, NY, NY.
*Douglas, A., & Shapiro, L.R. (2019, March). The Impact of Male Juvenile Offenders Stereotypes on Subsequent Hiring Decisions and Recidivism Expectations. Academy of Criminal Justice Science, Baltimore, Maryland.
Shapiro, L.R., & Alexandrou, A. (2019, March). Online Security: Protecting Adolescents and Young Adults from Exposure to Extremism and Criminal Victimization. In L.R. Shapiro (Chair), Preventing violent crime. Academy of Criminal Justice Science, Baltimore, Maryland.
Shapiro, L.R., & Maras-M-H (2017, November). Warning: Ads selling sex with children. Global and Transnational Crimes Conference. Philadelphia, PA.
Shapiro, L.R., & Maras-M-H (2017, June). Social media as a means for radicalizing women in the US. Terrorism and Social Media International Conference, Swansea, Wales.
Shapiro, L.R., & Maras-M-H (2017, March). Advice to private security guards on detecting juvenile shoplifters. In S.K. Shernock (Chair), Crime prevention programs and policies in security and crime prevention. Academy of Criminal Justice Science, Kansas City, MO.
Grants Completed
Shapiro, L.R. (2022). The role of social media in cyberabuse of college students. OAR Funding Program, Faculty Scholarship, John Jay College. [$3735].+
Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Juvenile criminal stereotypes. OAR Funding Program, Faculty Scholarship, John Jay College. [$1500].+
Shapiro, L.R. (2022). Kickstart Grant. USDOE OPE: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Faculty Covid Awards, John Jay College [$5000].
Shapiro, L.R. (2021). Cyberpredators and their prey. OAR Funding Program, Book Publication Funding Program, John Jay College [$2500].+
Alexandrou, A., Till, R., Shapiro, L.R., & Maras, M-H (2019). Moving theory into practice for an undergraduate security course (SEC329). The Teaching and Learning Center, Program Improvement Grant. John Jay College [$2400].
Shapiro, L.R. (2016). Index fees associated with publishing the book entitled, Multidisciplinary Investigation of Child Maltreatment (formerly entitled, A Multidisciplinary Approach to Assessing Abuse in Children and Adolescents Jones & Bartlett Learning. OAR Funding Program, Book Publication Funding Program, John Jay College [$419.85].
Shapiro, L.R. and Maras, M-H. [Investigators]. (2016). An exploration of psychology and security students’ juvenile criminal stereotypes. OAR Funding Program, Faculty Scholarship, John Jay College [$1500]. +
Shapiro, L.R. and Maras, M-H. [Investigators]. (2016). Women’s radicalization to terrorism: An examination of US cases. OAR Funding Program, Faculty Scholarship, John Jay College [$1500]. +
Lauren R. Shapiro uses an interdisciplinary approach that blends the fields of psychology, childhood development and education, law, criminal justice, and security to produce scholarship that is relevant to both researchers and practitioners. Her scholarship covers the following topics:
Young adults' exposure to cyberabuse online. Her research team is currently examining the role that social media platforms play in victimizing young adults. Of interest to her team is whether college students perceive the behaviors they experience and observe online as being "cyberabuse." Their investigation should provide answers regarding whether students' definitions are consistent with previously used ones in research, they seek a pattern in which users are targeted (e.g., marginalized due to gender, sexual orientation, religion, race/ethnicity), and whether they/others seek help and report what happened to law enforcement and/or social media platforms.
Extralegal factors (i.e., sex, race, gender characteristics) of juvenile offenders and criminal stereotypes. Drawing on her psychology and criminal justice expertise, she has examined how criminal stereotypes influence the perception, interpretation, recall, and decisions made by eyewitnesses, private security, and law enforcement, from the criminal scene through all stages in the criminal justice system. Additional work has examined how criminal stereotypes influence employers' decisions to hire ex-cons and their perception of recidivism.
Potential and real threats involving radicalized female U.S. citizens who have joined extremist groups and committed terrorist acts. Her work provides insight to private security personnel regarding the roles adolescent girls and women play in terrorist organizations that threaten their task of asset protection. It also explains the acquisition of extremist ideas through radical ideas on various online platforms and apps and potential strategies to deradicalize these beliefs. Her research is tied to school safety/security in terms of prevention strategies, as well as relevant to private security personnel who are involved in physical security for prisons where these women may be incarcerated.
International focus on manufacturing/distribution/possession of child sex dolls/robots and child sexual abuse material and on sexual trafficking of child and adult victims. Her investigation of these topics are relevant to both the private and public sectors (e.g., pursuit of missing/abused children, investigations). She has also considered the legal liabilities, both criminally and civilly, of third party involvement in trafficking.
Cyberpredators. Her analysis of various types of online offenders has provided information regarding their typical motives and methods, who they target, their impact on victims and society, and cybersecurity strategies. Her explanation of what makes targets vulnerable draws on psychological, legal, and security principles.