Meet the Faculty

Contact me for…

• Career exploration assistance
• Writing assistance

Research Interests:

In general, my research interests explore how race, gender, and class, as social characteristics, can influence legal outcomes. My research includes studies that utilize data from the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS) in an effort to propose an integrated theoretical model that has the capacity to predict adjudication outcomes with an acceptable level of credibility. Although much work has been done focusing on how social characteristics may influence law enforcement practices, few have attempted to combine various models into one framework. Social geometry uses a muti-dimensional approach in its attempt to explain observed variations in the behavior of law. In addition, social geometry posits that by holding constant the conduct of parties involved, case outcomes vary with their location and direction in social space, or their social geometry.

Teaching Interests:

Policing, Research Methods, Investigations, Crime Scene Management, Criminology, Terrorism/Counter-Terrorism.

Professional Activity:

Professional Presentations
What is the State of the Illinois Criminal Justice System? Roundtable discussion and presentation given at the Illinois Sociological Association Conference, Heartland Community College, Normal, Illinois, October 2010.

Recognizing Deception: A Kinesics Approach to Police Interviews and Interrogations, Given at the Indiana Correctional Association North District Conference, Decatur, Indiana, May 2007.

Manuscript Reviewing
Manuscript Reviewer, Prentice Hall, 2005–2007

Affiliations
American Sociological Association
Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Alumni Association

Military
Military United States Navy 1990–1996 Master at Arms (Military Police)

Certifications

• Crime Scene Processing February 2005
• Critical Incident Operation Command and Planning September 2004
• Police Supervisors Course September 2000
• Juvenile Officer October 1998
• Criminal Intelligence Analyst September 1997
• PPCT Defensive Tactics System April 1997
• Criminal Patrol Drug Enforcement Officer October 1995

Publications
Lally, W. E., & DeMaris, A. (2012). Arresting the Perpetrator in Intimate-Partner Violence: A Comparative Analysis of Gender and Relational Distance Effects. Crime and Delinquency, 58(1), 103-123. doi: 10.1177/0011128711420102

Lally, W. E. (2008). Safety Issues During Traffic Stops. In M. Birzer & C. Roberson, Police Field Operations: Theory Meets Practice (p. 254). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

Lally, W. E. (2002). Impact of Small-Town Politics on Policing (Master’s thesis). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Papers in Progress
Lally, W. E. The Influence of Race, Gender, and Class on Traffic Enforcement Practices? A Critical Analysis. Manuscript being prepared for journal submission.

Other Authored Works
Lally, W. E. (2006). Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation . ITT Technical Institute (Online Class Template): Pearson Education, Inc.

Lally, W. E. (2005). Criminal Investigation. ITT Technical Institute (Online Class Template): Pearson Education, Inc

Community Engagement:

Outside of your professional capacity, what are some ways that you contribute to your local community and/or the Eureka community?

Uniquely Eureka Experience:

What drew you to Eureka? What do you love about it? Is there something that you do or that happened to you that would only happen at Eureka? Why should a prospective student consider coming here?