Dr. Nicky Ali Jackson
“The real threat to justice is the illusion of equal justice…”
Dr. Jackson is a Professor of Criminal Justice at Purdue University Northwest (PNW).
She has dedicated her career to being a voice for the voiceless. A Victimologist and Criminologist, she is a staunch advocate for those who have suffered personal and institutional injustices. She shines a light on miscarriages of justice, particularly wrongful convictions. While many use their voices to raise awareness on the plight of victims, she actively pursues calls for action. Her vision to help wrongly convicted inmates and those who have been exonerated led to the creation of the Center for Justice and Post-Exoneration Assistance at PNW where she serves as its Executive Director.
Dr. Jackson also is the founder and President of the Willie T. Donald Exoneration Advisory Coalition. She recognized that exonerees were victims of a broken criminal justice system. As such, she decided it was important to add a scholarly piece examining exonerees in the victimology sphere. As lead author, she personally interviewed numerous exonerees and their loved ones for a book she recently co- authored titled The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction: Innocent Inmates and Indirect Victims.
Her work has received national attention as she has been invited to serve on two esteemed advisory boards
dedicated to criminal justice reform – Free at Last Coalition and Reform Alliance. She also serves as an advisory
board member at Indiana State Prison and Westville Correctional Center. Her passion for justice and philanthropy
has resulted in numerous awards.
In 2021, Dr. Jackson was the recipient of the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the highest civilian honor granted by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, for her humanitarian efforts.
Criminal Justice
Victimology
Wrongful Conviction
Juvenile Justice
Domestic Violence
Social Justice
Women & The Law
Restorative Justice
Education
Ph.D. Sociology (concentration in Criminal Justice), University of Illinois at Chicago, 1992.
Doctoral Dissertation Title: Intimate Violence: Predisposing Factors, Sources of Help, and Conflict Resolution
M.A. Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1988.
Master’s Thesis Title: Consequential Thinking Among Delinquent Youth
B.S. Criminal Justice, Ball State University (cum laude) 1985.