Dr. Jane M. Tucker

Title: Professor
Location: 513 BPM Center
Email: JTucker@wcupa.edu
Phone: 610-436-2638
Google Scholar: Dr. Jane M. Tucker Profile

Biography

Dr. Tucker joined the West Chester University Criminal Justice Department in August of 2011. Prior to joining the faculty WCU, Dr. Tucker taught criminal justice courses at both Kutztown University and at Temple University. Dr. Tucker is a retired police officer who served with Lower Merion Township Police Department (Ardmore, PA). During her years of service, she was trained in a wide variety of law enforcement topics, including crime prevention, community policing, domestic violence, child abuse investigation, fatal traffic accident investigation, and hate crimes investigation. Additionally, Dr. Tucker served as a platoon investigator and a field training officer (FTO).

Dr. Tucker’s main research interest is police officer stress and stress intervention programs. She has served with several Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams throughout the Commonwealth and is currently the Operational Coordinator and on the Leadership Committee for the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional CISM team which provides peer support for first responders and their families across six counties in Pennsylvania. Dr. Tucker is an approved instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and CISM certification training and consultation to first responders, disaster response teams and peer-support teams. 

During her tenure at West Chester University, Dr. Tucker has served as the department Practicum Coordinator, Graduate Coordinator, and faculty advisor to both Sigma Tau Omicron (Criminal Justice Student Association) and Alpha Phi Sigma, Nu Beta Chapter (National Criminal Justice Honor Society). Dr. Tucker has been published in the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, Victims and Offenders, the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, and LifeNet. In addition, she has co-authored a book chapter and several encyclopedia entries.

Professional Certifications

  • Certification in Emergency Crisis Response (C.E.C.R.) through the American Academy of Experts  in Traumatic Stress and the National Center for Crisis Management
  • Critical Incident Stress Management (ICISF)
  • Instructor Certification (ICISF)
    o   Assisting Individuals in Crisis
    o   Group Crisis Intervention
    o   Assisting Individuals in Crisis: Advanced Principles and Practices

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Tucker, J.M., Bratina, M. P., Caprio, B. (2022). Understanding the effect of news media and social media on first responders. Crisis, Stress, and Human Resilience: An international journal, 3(4), 106-137.
  • Tucker, J. M., Brewster, M. P., Grugan, S. T., Miller, L. M.,* & Mapp-Matthews, S. M.* (2019). Exploring criminal justice students’ attitudes toward LGBTQ individuals and LGBTQ police officers.  Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 30(2), 165-192.  
  • Brewster, M. P., & Tucker, J. M. (2016).  Understanding bystander behavior: The influence of and interaction between bystander characteristics and situational factors.  Victims & Offenders, 11(3), 455-481. 
  • Tucker, J. M. (2015).  Police officer willingness to use stress intervention services:  The role of perceived organizational support (POS), confidentiality, and stigma.  International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, 17(1), 304-314.
  • Tucker, J.M.,& Brewster, M. P. (2015).  Evaluating the effectiveness of team-based learning.  Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 26(4), 1-25.
  • Brewster, M. P., & Tucker, J. M. (2014).  Crime Victims in Pennsylvania.  In M. P. Brewster and H. R. Demmer (Eds.).  Pennsylvania Criminal Justice System (pp. 227-256).  Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.
  • Tucker, J.M. (2013).  Police Treatment of Crime Victims.  In Jay Albanese (Ed).  The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice.  New Jersey:  Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Tucker, J.M. (2013).  Date Rape.  In Jay Albanese (Ed).  The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. New Jersey:  Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Tucker, J.M. (2012). What Shapes Police Officer Willingness to Use Stress Intervention Services:  An Empirical Study of Current Factors in Pennsylvania. (Doctoral dissertation). ProQuest Dissertation and Theses.  (Accession Order No. AAT3510352).

Other Publications

  • Tucker, J. M. (2021, January). Mediating media stress: Navigating the world of real news, fake news, and social media.  LifeNet COVID-19 Edition. https://icisf.org/lifenet/
  • Tucker, J. M. (2011, November 15).  A teachable moment: Learning from the Penn State Tragedy. Daily Local.
     

Service to the Discipline

  • Northeastern Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (NEACJS)
    o  Director-at-Large (2025-Present)
    o  Advertising & Sponsorship Committee (2019-Present)
    o  Membership Committee (2022-2024)
    o  Conference Advancement Committee (2019-2024)
    o  Newsletter Committee (202-2022)
    o  Treasurer (2019-2024)
    o  Audit Committee (2017-2018)
  • Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS)
    o  Policing Section (Secretary) (2018-2020)
    o  Local Arrangements Committee (2014)
  • Reviewer
    o  Journal of Criminal Justice
    o  Police Quarterly
    o  Victims & Offenders
    o  Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
    o  Journal of Psychology and Behavior Research
    o  Journal of Social and Economic Studies
    o  Criminal Justice Policy Review (CJPR)

    o  Sage: Police in America (textbook)
    o  Taylor and Francis: Police Stress (textbook)

Service to the University

  • APSCUF Disability Caucus (2025-Present)
  • LGBTQIA Caucus (2023)
  • Diverse Communities Taskforce (CAPC) (2021)
  • Co-Chair, Excellence in Teaching Committee (2020/2021)
  • Executive Graduate Council (2017)
  • Graduate Council (2014-2017)
  • Faculty Senate Proxy (2014-2015)
  • LGBTQ Committee (2012-2015)

Service to the Department

  • Department Administrative Hiring Committee (2026)
  • Bylaws Committee (2021-2024)
  • Curriculum Review Committee (2022-2024)
  • Chair Election/Assistant Chair Selection Committee (2016-2024)
  • Inspire! Writing Center - Founder/Organizer (2020-2026)
  • Advising Committee (2020-2025)
  • Faculty Search Committees (4x, member, Co-Chair and Chair – 2x)
  • Graduate Coordinator (2014-2017)
  • Practicum Coordinator (2013-2017)
  • Founder/Organizer – TEAMfit (2013-2020)
  • Advisor – Alpha Phi Sigma / Nu Beta (2013-2020)
  • Advisor – CJSA / Sigma Tao Omicron (2011 – 2013)

Classes Regularly Taught

  • Policing in America
  • Forensic Science I
  • Sex Crimes & the Law
  • Criminal Investigations
  • The State of Hate in America
  • Writing for the Criminal Justice Professional
  • Decision-Making in the Criminal Justice System (graduate)

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