Carissa Ellis

Carissa Ellis holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach. She brings practical experience from her time in the detective’s bureau of a local police department and as a paralegal/legal assistant. As an undergraduate student, she published a paper critically examining federal law enforcement’s counterterrorism strategies. She later worked as a research assistant exploring policing practices and community-based crime prevention. Currently, she is evaluating a holistic public defense program using qualitative research methods. Both inside and outside the classroom, Carissa remains eager to engage in the broader discussion of criminal justice reform.