​Projects.

All projects in the Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab are designed to improve juvenile justice policy and practice to produce better outcomes for youth and communities. Projects span a variety of areas—from more traditional forensic psychology research on adolescents’ legal decision-making capacities to translational research focused on developing effective juvenile justice policies and practices. Further, they range from evaluations of new and existing juvenile justice policies and programs to implementation science projects replicating best practices in juvenile justice. 

​Evaluating the Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program

Collaborating with multiple city agencies, the JJR&R Lab has conducted a longitudinal evaluation of the Diversion Program. Results indicate that this program has reduced the annual number of school-based arrests in Philadelphia by 84% and produced a significant reduction in 2-year recidivism rates for diverted youth relative to a matched group of arrested youth.

Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating Graduated Response in Juvenile Probation

Collaborating with more than 150 counties across the country, the JJR&R Lab uses research to help jurisdictions restructure their juvenile probation systems to facilitate youths' successful completion of court supervision and positive youth development.

​Evaluating the Youth/Law Enforcement DMC Curriculum

​​​​​The JJR&R Lab conducts research to evaluate the impacts of the Pennsylvania Disproportionate Minority Contact Youth/Law Enforcement Curriculum, a training that brings officers and young people together to improve relationships and foster safe and positive interactions in the community.

​​Creating a Positive School Safety Curriculum

The JJR&R Lab is creating, implementing, and evaluating a 16-session coaching manual and training series to teach school officers empirically based, procedurally just, and trauma-informed practices.


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Examining Miranda​ Rights Comprehension

The lab researches juveniles' Miranda waiver capacities and consults to state governments and legal organizations seeking to pass developmentally informed laws protecting juveniles' rights during interrogation. Through this work, the JJR&R Lab also created the Miranda Rights Comprehension Instruments (MRCI) for use in forensic evaluations.

​Conducting International Research on Juveniles' Legal Decision-Making Capacities

The JJR&R Lab conducts international and cross-cultural research on juveniles' decision making in a variety of legal contexts. Data are used to inform national policy decisions and to generate assessment tools translated ​into Spanish. The lab offers workshops, trainings, and presentations in English and Spanish.

​Developing and Evaluating an Anger Management Intervention for Girls

The lab created the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls, a manualized 16-session group treatment. Results of a randomized controlled trial revealed JJAM significantly reduced anger and aggression among girls in residential placement. JJAM was included as a "promising program" on NIJ's CrimeSolutions.org site and in OJJDP's Model Programs Guide.

​Training and Technical Assistance

​Beyond research, the Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab provides training and technical assistance in each of its core project areas to help juvenile justice stakeholders enhance system effectiveness and fairness, evaluate programs and policies, and generate better outcomes for youth and communities.