Melanie Bania
Melanie Bania is a Research Associate for the Institute for the Prevention of Crime and
a Ph.D. candidate in criminology at the University of Ottawa. She received her
Masters in criminology at the University of Ottawa in 2005. She has an
outstanding academic record, complemented by impressive research experience. As
an undergraduate student, Melanie worked on a number of meta-analytic
examinations into the effectiveness of correctional treatment. Melanie has more
recently worked on a number of important crime prevention projects, including
the preparation of a Handbook on the implementation of the United Nations
Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime, in collaboration with the National
Crime Prevention Centre of Canada. The Handbook’s goal is to assist
Canadian policy makers at all levels of government, practitioners, NGOs and
academics to implement the Guidelines found in the international instrument.
Melanie also worked closely with the Panel for Community Crime Prevention to prepare a report to launch a local campaign for a municipal crime prevention strategy within the City of Ottawa. The report was instrumental in gaining the support of a large majority of City Council and ultimately led to the creation of the new “Crime Prevention Ottawa” entity within the City. That summer, Melanie also helped the Canadian Council on Social Development update their Crime Prevention Through Social Development website to reflect more recent and comprehensive knowledge on evidence-based crime prevention policy and practice.
Since completing her Masters studies, Melanie has continued to expand her career as a research consultant for the Department of Justice Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, and Christie Lake Kids, a well-respected not-for-profit organisation renowned for its work with children and youth from low-income families in Ottawa.
Publications
Waller, I., Kirvan, M.-A., Bania, M. & Léonard, L. (2005). Strategies for successful crime prevention: A handbook on the implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Panel for Community Crime Prevention (2004). Community crime prevention: Investing for a safer Ottawa. Ottawa: Councillor Jacques Legendre’s Office, City of Ottawa.
Bania, M. (2005). An analysis of evidence on what works and what delivers crime prevention for Ontario. Unpublished Master’s Memoir, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (ON), Canada.
Latimer, J., Dowden, C., Morton-Bourgon, K.E., Edgar, J. & Bania, M. (2003). Treating youth in conflict with the law: A new meta-analysis. Ottawa: Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice Canada.