Crossroads Study
In order to establish an empirical basis for guiding juvenile justice decision-making, the Crossroads Study examines the effects on male juvenile offenders of different degrees of justice system involvement over the course of three years following arrest. Long term costs and benefits associated with different juvenile justice and diversion outcomes will be assessed. Youth who are diverted from justice system involvement will serve as a comparison group for formally processed youth.
Juvenile justice programs and procedures are enormously expensive. Yet, there is a paucity of information about the long-term effects of justice system involvement on juvenile offenders. The observed inconsistency in the processing of youthful offenders, even within the same locale, is symptomatic of the need for empirical guidance. The Crossroads Study will help juvenile justice professionals to make decisions about delinquent adolescents that serve the best interest of the community, the taxpayers, and the youths themselves.
Young Adult Court Study
The Young Adult Court (YAC) of Orange County was founded in response to the misalignment between developmental research and the application of criminal justice policies for transitional-aged youths. The YAC is a collaboration between the Defense Attorney, the District Attorney, Probation Officers, the Judge, the Orangewood Foundation and University of California, Irvine. Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman and her research team are evaluating the efficacy of the YAC in reducing recidivism and promoting prosocial outcomes.
Road to Reentry is a UC Irvine study (funded by the National Institute of Justice) evaluating a new Transitional-Aged Youth (TAY) Program at Theo Lacy Facility in Orange County. This new program is designed for young men ages 18-25 who are interested in reentry services tailored to their age group.
The goals of the program are to promote emotional well-being, prevent future criminal behavior, and to give youth tools to be successful when released.
Recent Journal Articles
Links and citations for journals articles published by past and current members of the 3D lab. Organized by year and topic.
Past Projects
Descriptions of previous studies completed by Dr. Cauffman and her students.