ºÚÁÏÍø

Dr. Kelsey Tom is a criminologist whose work examines how legal systems shape the lives of young people and their families. At the broadest level, her research asks how youth experience the justice system, what the consequences of those experiences are, and how policies and practices can be reimagined to support positive development and long-term success.

Her recent research has explored the effects of correctional confinement, the challenges and opportunities of probation, and how families navigate youth justice involvement. She partners with juvenile justice agencies to design and evaluate applied interventions, including strengths-based probation assessments that move beyond deficit-focused models to highlight what youth want and need to succeed. Her work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Experimental Criminology; Law and Human Behavior; and Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, and has been supported by the National Institute of Justice.

At ºÚÁÏÍø, Dr. Tom teaches courses on juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her adorable Australian shepherd and discovering small local restaurants or coffee shops.

• Juvenile justice
• Psychology and law
• Life-course developmental criminology