School for Cultural and Social Transformation

8 Research Reflection by Ximena Franco

Ximena Franco

Faculty Mentor: Annie Isabel Fukushima (Ethnic Studies, University of Utah)

 

When beginning studying my major, I was surprised to learn how many demographics- across cultures, religions, political spheres, and communities- are generally left unprotected from criminal activity. One of those unprotected demographics that broke me was children. As I began doing personal research on how children become victims of criminal behavior, I realized that there remains many knowledge gaps. My research question aimed to address one of the knowledge gaps and analyze how the Utah court system responds to a child’s psychological needs after witnessing/experiencing domestic violence. The concept is very difficult and there were moments where I need to step away and calm down before continuing. However, it has become more and more clear that even in the justice system, children are not completely safe; their needs for stability and safety are not fully met. This remains a troubling thought for me and it begs the questions that if children are currently not safe in the system, where are they safe? And how can the system become a place where a child’s safety is at the forefront of any decision making? Before my research, I was interested in achieving a legal career, either in the criminal or immigration fields. However, I now am considering pursuing a career in child welfare/advocacy. Whether it means I become a therapist for children, achieving a position of counselor/advisor for the local or state government, a lawyer specializing in child protection, or becoming a foster parent, I aim to work in some capacity that may be able to provide safety and resources to children who experience danger in their lives.


About the author

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

RANGE: Undergraduate Research Journal (2023) Copyright © 2023 by Ximena Franco is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book