Overview
My work focuses on the prevalence, causes, and consequences of contact with the criminal legal system and the child welfare system for families.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Sociology
·
2020 - Present
Sociology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Chair of Sociology
·
2025 - Present
Sociology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Co-Director for the Carceral Studies Certificate in the Kenan Institute for Ethics
·
2025 - Present
Kenan Institute for Ethics,
University Institutes and Centers
Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
·
2023 - Present
Sanford School of Public Policy
Affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy
·
2023 - Present
Center for Child and Family Policy,
Sanford School of Public Policy
Recent Publications
Associations between childhood maltreatment and mid-life health risks and risky health behaviors in a nationally representative sample
Journal Article Ssm Mental Health · June 1, 2026 Millions of U.S. children experience maltreatment each year, which is associated with subsequent health risks, including psychopathology. We use data from up to 9692 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) ... Full text CiteRetaining Hard-to-engage populations in longitudinal studies: a research note on rapid data collection with former foster care youth in NYC
Journal Article Children and Youth Services Review · June 1, 2026 Attrition is a persistent issue in the study of the transition to adulthood for youth who have aged out of foster care. One solution to ameliorate selection problems resulting from attrition is employing what we refer to as rapid data collection, a panel r ... Full text CiteDoes paternal criminal legal system involvement increase children's risk of child protective services contact? Evidence from Wisconsin linked administrative data.
Journal Article Child abuse & neglect · April 2026 BackgroundResearch shows a strong overlap between paternal criminal legal system (CLS) involvement-especially incarceration-and children's involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS) and foster care placement.ObjectiveTo examine thre ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Rockwool #5- Intergenerational desistance, persistence, and escalation in severe marginalization
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rockwool Foundation · 2025 - 2029National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Interior · 2022 - 2027"Implications of Parental Incarceration for Child Health and Wellbeing"
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Pennsylvania State University · 2022 - 2027View All Grants
Education
Princeton University ·
2008
Ph.D.