The First Delinquency Prevention Experiment: A Socio-Historical Review of the Origins of the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study’s Research Design

At the American Society of Criminology conference, I presented on a project which was designed to investigate the effects of pre-trial programming on sentencing outcomes in county sentenced offenders. There were no conclusive results, but it was a preliminary study that was productive in moving forward research regarding programming in county jails. Attending the conference was an incredibly valuable experience that solidified my aspirations to become a research professor. I shared ideas with some of the smartest people I have ever met, and debated on many topics. My favorite panel I attended was addressing corrections policy implications in the Trump political era. In this panel I was able to listen to four of the leading corrections criminologists and their ideas for reducing the amount of incarcerated individuals in the United States. This panel not only informed me on the problematic climate currently within corrections, but it allowed me to form my own opinions and ideas regarding the issues. I also loved attending the conference with my research team. Dr. Natasha Frost spent time with me discussing my new ideas and explaining the reasons these issues within corrections.

After attending this conference, I have a new fire in my heart for producing research that can make a positive social impact. I want to understand how to reduce crime, and this conference inspired me to dive into the current research to further my understanding of criminal theory. This conference made me realize research is where I want to spend my time and future.

Conference Travel Fund Blog Post by Bradley Luckett
Candidate for a Bachelor of Science in Psychology ’18