Bringing together criminal careers research and sentencing research
Prior criminal history is a primary determinant of the case outcome and the sentence that has multiple dimensions. My research takes stock from research on criminal careers, and examines how the nature of criminal records–recency, frequency, type, etc.–help shaping the sentence.
A study on the pattern and measurement of criminal specialization, with Jessica Rosenthal
The patterns and sources of extralegal disparities in the sentence
Despite recent reforms and efforts, extralegal disparities in case outcomes, including but not limited to racial and sex disparities, remain extant. My research investigates the potential sources of the disparities with a dynamic focus on previously less-studied factors: judges’ beliefs, the role of sentencing guidelines, and others.
A study on the measurement of the sentence, with Andrea Montes (ASU), Marisa Omori (UMSL), Nick Petersen (Miami-FL), and Cassia Spohn (ASU)
Explaining guilty plea decisions
The overwhelming majority of criminal cases end up as guilty pleas, which makes our criminal justice system today “a system of pleas.” My research investigates the conditions and driving factors behind plea bargaining decisions, with a focus on how the prospect of outcomes both inside and outside of the courtroom foster defendants’ willingness to accept plea offers.
A study testing a rational-choice plea decision framework, with Theodore Wilson (Albany), Matthew Kijowski, and Jacob Forston
The measurement of risk inside and outside of the criminal justice system
Since its inception, the criminal justice system revolves around the idea of personal risk, which is meanwhile notoriously difficult to measure. My research explores effective ways to represent the heterogeneous levels of risk among individuals with modern mixture modeling techniques, and inquires into the social risk factors from an interdisciplinary perspective.
A study on inmates’ classification and post-release outcomes, with Jesenia Pizarro and Kristen Zgoba
A study on family structure and dynamics and youth delinquency, with Brandee Augustine
Shi Yan 