Through inspired research, our School is committed to understanding crime, empowering individuals and promoting justice both locally and globally. Below are a few examples of the work happening within the research hub Crime Prevention and Social Justice. To learn more about our research hubs, click here.
Preventing Miscarriages of Justice
The National Registry of Exonerations, housed in the Newkirk Center for Science and Society, provides comprehensive information on exonerations of innocent criminal defendants in the US in order to prevent future false convictions by learning from past errors.
Connecting Psychology and the Law
The UCI Center for Psychology & Law fosters collaboration and communication among academics, legal professionals, policy makers, and the general public to address areas of inquiry where social sciences and legal systems intersect. The center works to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and public policy by bringing together faculty, students, and members of the legal community to address real world problems.
Informing Correctional Policy
In an effort to put science before politics when managing state correctional populations, the Center for Evidence-Based Corrections evaluates juvenile and adult prison programs – including rehabilitation, parole and reentry programs – and conducts research to help corrections officials make policy decisions based on scientific evidence.
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Rap on Trial
Is it a crime to rhyme? Rap lyrics are increasingly turning up as evidence in courtrooms across the country, where prosecutors argue that the lyrics are either autobiographical confessions or evidence of a defendant’s criminal motive. Professor Charis Kubrin and her collaborators have documented hundreds of these cases, which raises important questions about artistic freedom, freedom of speech and the rights of all citizens to receive a fair trial.