ATWJE - Dr. Belinda (Bel) Pedroza - The Proven Analyst

Episode: 00174 Released on August 28, 2023 Description: This week we get a brief look behind the prison system and the day-to-day life of a corrections officer (turned analyst). Dr. Bel Pedroza gives us insight on how she started her law enforcement career as a corrections officer, then how she transitioned into a crime and intelligence analyst, to ultimately how she obtained her doctorate degree with a dissertation focusing on gangs. Bel is well-versed in gang-related topics thanks to her hands-on experience working with prison gang members; now she is go-to for many people as the resident-expert on all things gangs. Bel discusses the difficulties of transitioning back into the “normal world” after multiple years working in the prison system as well as where she’d like to go from here. Bel is currently a crime intelligence analyst for Pflugerville Police Department.

This episode is being released on the week of the IACA Conference in Grapevine, TX, and Bel should be in attendance if you’d like to meet her. Jason and the team will also be wandering the conference, so come say hi to us! Jason will also be taking selfies with people, so come take yours! See you all there! 

CHALLENGE: There are Easter eggs in one of the tables of the Excel chapter that Jason wrote for the IACA textbook. First-person to email us at [email protected] about what the Easter eggs are will receive a $50 gift card from us. Happy hunting!

Name Drops: 

Public Service Announcements:
Mary Bertuccelli (https://www.leapodcasts.com/e/mary-bertuccelli-the-networker/)
Joshua Todd

Related Links:
https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/
http://tgia.net/
https://www.dps.texas.gov/
https://police.pflugervilletx.gov/
https://www.prearesourcecenter.org/about/prison-rape-elimination-act
Association(s) Mentioned: TGIA, IALEIA

Vendor(s) Mentioned: 

Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bel-p-0673a91a6/ 

Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/b4pcf8/BelPedroza_transcript.pdf
Podcast Writer: Mindy Duong

Podcast Researcher: 

Theme Song: Written and Recorded by The Rough & Tumble. Find more of their music at www.theroughandtumble.com.

Logo: Designed by Kyle McMullen. Please visit www.moderntype.com for any printable business forms and planners. 

Podcast Email: [email protected]  

Podcast Webpage: www.leapodcasts.com  

Podcast Twitter: @leapodcasts

00:00:17 – Introducing Bel
00:03:10 – Corrections Officer
00:14:44 – Becoming an Analyst
00:21:22 – Texas Department of Public Safety 
00:23:33 – Keeping Up - TGIA 
00:26:07 – Break:  Mary Bertuccelli & Joshua Todd
00:27:00 – Pflugerville PD
00:32:46 – Gang Conversation
00:48:25 – Training
00:55:09 – Words to the World