7. Psychological Theories of Crime
Positionality Statement
Jennifer Mervyn, Ph.D., Registered Psychologist with BC College of Psychologists
I am Metis on my father’s side, with my ancestors originating from the Red River area, and European on my mother’s side. I am a mother of three children who are also Cherokee/Muscogee on their father’s side. I am working hard to raise my family with a proud and rich sense of cultural identity, as I believe it is essential to healing from intergenerational trauma. I have worked in a clinical capacity with vulnerable children, youth, adults, and families for over 20 years and supported a number of young people as they have interacted with the criminal justice system. Through this work, I have come to believe that the criminalisation of mental health and addictions only further stigmatises and entrenches our most vulnerable and makes access to healing more difficult for all. My heart and life’s work are centred around promoting trauma-informed policies, principles, and practices across all sectors (healthcare, policing, child services, education) so that we will see healthier individuals, families, and communities that are able to thrive.
Positionality Statement
Stacy Ashton, M.A., Crisis Centre BC
I am a White, cis-gender, middle-class professional who has spent her career in the non-profit sector, including frontline and administrative work in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. I am committed to community-based crisis and mental health response and have recently submitted proposals to BC’s Special Parliamentary Committee on Police Act Reform advocating for a crisis care continuum to drastically reduce the need for police response to mental health crisis situations.
