In a commendable recognition, Commissioner of Police (Ag.) Verne Garde has celebrated the remarkable achievements of Dr. Montelle Felix, a dedicated Police Constable at the Community Policing Unit of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).
Dr. Felix has pursued higher knowledge and successfully earned a PhD in Crime Prevention and Corrections from Central Police University in Taiwan, along with an MSc in Management specializing in Criminal Justice Management from the University of Maryland, and a BSc in Criminal Justice from Monroe University.
In a distinguished group of officers, Dr. Felix joins the ranks of academic high achievers like Dr. Mashama Sealy (Assistant Commissioner of Police), reflecting a strong commitment to professional development within the force.
His academic journey is further marked by attaining a black belt in judo while studying in Taiwan, exemplifying discipline, resilience, and a commitment to personal growth.
Dr. Felix’s research is groundbreaking, focusing on critical decision-making in law enforcement and behavioral influences in correctional environments. His dissertation, titled “Determinants of Police Officers Making an Arrest When Responding to Intimate Partner Violence Cases in Taiwan,” offers vital insights into police discretion during domestic violence incidents, making a significant contribution to the discussion on effective policing practices both locally and internationally.
An accomplished author, Dr. Felix has published influential works such as “Factors Shaping Inmate Trust in Correctional Officers in Taiwan: Do Procedural Justice and Distributive Justice Matter?”, exploring the crucial dynamics of inmate-officer relationships.
His portfolio includes important studies like “Suicidal Ideation and Its Correlates Among Incarcerated Persons in Taiwan,” which tackles critical mental health issues in correctional facilities, and “The Impact of Social Learning and Social Bonds on Juvenile Delinquency: An Empirical Study of Secondary School Students in Saint Lucia,” probing social influences on youth behavior.
Currently, Dr. Felix is collaborating with scholars on an upcoming paper titled “Revisiting Violent Misconduct Among Juvenile Committed Offenders in Correctional Schools: An Application of General Strain and Social Support Theories,” which aims to deepen the theoretical understanding of juvenile behavior in institutional contexts.
Beyond his extensive research, Dr. Felix is an active reviewer for the Journal of Deviant Behavior, aiding the distribution of innovative criminological studies. His continuous contributions in research and editorial work are instrumental in advancing knowledge in criminal justice, with a strong emphasis on justice, social influences, and rehabilitation within both policing and correctional frameworks.