Criminology Chats
This podcast delves into case studies, explores innovative research, and features interviews with specialists to illuminate the dynamic field of crime and justice. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply fascinated by crime narratives, there is much to discover. So, put on your headphones, relax, and join us as we navigate the complex realm of criminology. Welcome to Criminology Chats—where we bring the educational experience right to your ears. For more information and to enroll at The Chicago School, go to www.thechicagoschool.edu New episodes become available bi-weekly on Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. Don’t forget to follow us and listen to our episodes on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us with questions, comments or ideas for new episodes at criminologychatspodcast@gmail.com Our YouTube Channel Link: YouTube
Episodes
🎙️ Welcome, listeners! Before we dive into today’s episode, I have an important update for you. This is our final episode of the year, but don’t worry—we’ll be back in 2026 with brand-new episodes of Criminology Chats!
We’ve got some incredible content lined up for next year. Our first episode of 2026 will drop on January 22nd at 7:00 PM EST, and after that, you can expect new episodes every two weeks.
In the meantime, please keep...
In this episode, hosts JR and Grace will engage in a conversation with Detective McDonald from the Aurora Colorado Police Department.
Detective McDonald will talk about investigating cold cases. He will explain some of the difficulties and triumphs in working on them.
He will elaborate on three cold cases that were resolved using modern DNA techniques alongside fundamental detective practices.
We hope you enjoy it. "STAY SAFE OUT T...
In this episode JR is doing a live taping at Red Rocks Community College (RRCC), Lakewood, CO as part of the Mental Health Academy. This is a collaboration between The Chicago School and RRCC.
The guests are Jack Storti and brain injury survivor who turned into a Treatment Court Program Manager and Sarah Covey the Director of Denver Reentry Services of the Brain Injury Association of Colorado. Her spouse is a brain injury survivor.
...In this episode Hosts JR and Ashley chat with two police cadets in training at a police academy in Colorado. They are about half-way through their training and Ashley, and I wanted to get their perspective at this time in their training.
We chatted with them on the same day but at different times based on their schedule.
We expect goblins, ghosts, and ghouls to roam the streets on All Hallows Eve; what we do not expect is murder.
In this episode JR and Ashley discuss two murder cases that happen on or around Halloween.
The first case is that of Shauna Howe. In 1992, Halloween was cancelled in Oil City, Pennsylvania. However, around 8:00 PM on 27 October 1992, Shauna was walking home from a Girl Scout Halloween party when she was abducted and killed...
This is the case of Jessica Reeves-Burrola doing Life Without Parole (LWOP). One night high on drugs and alcohol changed her life forever. Was it self-defense or revenge murder. “Jes” has been in email correspondence with us, and we are providing our listeners with information she provided.
In this episode JR and co-host Carley chat with Brandon Hall. Brandon is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. For about 25 years he has been an emergency 911 dispatcher with the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications.
Elderly crimes and scams are serious issues. Scammers often target seniors because they might be lonely or not familiar with technology. These scams can take many forms, like phone calls where someone pretends to be from a government agency or a charity. They may ask for money or personal information, like bank details. Other's use the hope of love and romance to steal. Some scams even use fake emails to trick elderly people into c...
In this episode, Dr. Paul Boxer, from Rutgers University, Newark, NJ talks about violent media, the impact on youth aggressiveness and later violent behavior.
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Marissa A. Harrison from Penn State University (PSU) Harrisburg, PA who has studied female serial killers and written a book about them.
This is part 2 of the tragic case of Army Sergeant James T. Murphy.
In this episode we start with Murphy arriving in West Germany and we will quote from his on emails to us about his actions leading to the death of three people.
Listeners will hear from Rich Vitaris one of Murphy's military defense attorneys at his original trial.
We will talk about Murphy’s psychological testing that was done a decade after his conviction.
Pleas...
Welcome to this episode of Criminology Chats, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of crime, justice, and everything in between. Today, we're tackling a fascinating yet tragic case, one that raises difficult questions about evidence, justice, and the complexities of the human psyche.
This is part one of a two-part series about the disturbing case of Army Sergeant James T. Murphy.
Murphy was convicted by a military court-ma...
In this episode we will be speaking with Police Chief Randal Moody of the Harrisonville Missouri Police Department.
In this episode, the leadership team from the Cold Case Foundation will engage in a discussion with students at the Chicago School. They will share insights on how the foundation supports families and law enforcement in tackling unsolved murders, serial crimes, and related cases. Tune in to learn more about their vital work in bringing closure to these challenging situations.
Welcome to this episode of Criminology Chats. I’m your host, JR Rainbolt. Today, we have the honor of speaking with Tyler Allen, the esteemed host of the popular true crime podcast, Minds of Madness. Joining us are several students from The Chicago School, who will engage with Tyler through questions and discussions. Tyler will share insights about his podcast journey and delve into the intricate case of Jennifer Shirm, which he ex...
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Denise C. Vargas, PsyD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, who provides valuable insights into the mental health challenges faced by incarcerated individuals. Dr. Vargas shares her unique experiences working in jails, where she frequently engages with inmates. She examines the profound effects of trauma and addiction on these individuals, highlighting how these elements frequently contribute ...
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