Jennifer Woolard is a developmental psychologist known for work within the juvenile justice system.[1][2] Woolard is professor of psychology and adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University.[3] She is involved in the Youth In Custody Practice Model Initiative at the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, which seeks to adopt evidence-based developmentally-appropriate practices within juvenile correctional institutions.[4]

Jennifer Woolard
Occupation(s)Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Professor of Law
AwardsDean’s Award for Teaching Excellence
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
Academic work
InstitutionsGeorgetown University
Websitehttp://jenwoolard.com/

Woolard served as president of the American Psychology–Law Society in 2016.[5] She is co-author of the book Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect Through Parent Education.[6]

Biography

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Woolard received her doctoral degree in developmental and community psychology at the University of Virginia in 1998. Her dissertation titled "Developmental aspects of judgment and competence in legally relevant contexts"[7] was completed under the supervision of N. Dickon Reppucci.

Post-graduation, Woolard served a staff member to the Virginia Commission on Family Violence Prevention and was a consultant with Virginians Against Domestic Violence.[8]

Woolard was a member of the faculty of the University of Florida Center for Studies in Criminology and Law before joining the faculty Psychology Department at Georgetown University in 2002.[9] While at Georgetown, Woolard was recipient of the College Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence.[9] She has served as a member of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice.[10]

Woolard is Principal Investigator of the Georgetown Community Research Group, which focuses on systems of care and control as in criminal justice and school systems. Her research group aims to understand how teens and their parents negotiate and work within these systems.[11][12] The researchers have sought to understand how young people perceive their legal rights, such as the right to a trial, the right to an attorney, the right to remain silent, and the role of the defense,[13] with the aim of informing judicial policies and establishing fair and just legal processes for youth.[14] Woolard and her team have conducted research within juvenile correctional facilities,[15] documenting inverse relationships between rates of family visitation and youth behavioral problems,[16] and studying possible barrier to family contact.[17] Other studies have examined parental perceptions of juvenile probation procedures and interactions with probation officers.[18]

In 2015, Woolard launched a three-year program titled Project Cohort with the goal of providing extensive mental health resources for veterans[19] and potentially reduce the suicide rates of veterans across by targeting post-traumatic stress disorder.[20]

Representative work

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  • Vidal, S., & Woolard, J. (2016). Parents' perceptions of juvenile probation: Relationship and interaction with juvenile probation officers, parent strategies, and youth's compliance on probation. Children and Youth Services Review, 66, 1–8.
  • Woolard, J. L., Cleary, H. M., Harvell, S. A., & Chen, R. (2008). Examining adolescents’ and their parents’ conceptual and practical knowledge of police interrogation: A family dyad approach. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37(6), 685–698.
  • Woolard, J. L., Harvell, MPP, S., & Graham, Ph.D., S. (2008). Anticipatory injustice among adolescents: Age and racial/ethnic differences in perceived unfairness of the justice system. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 26(2), 207–226.
  • Woolard, J. L., Odgers, C., Lanza-Kaduce, L., & Daglis, H. (2005). Juveniles within adult correctional settings: Legal pathways and developmental considerations. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 4(1), 1–18.
  • Woolard, J. L., Vidal, S., & Fountain, E. (2015). Juvenile offenders. In B. L. Cutler & P. A. Zapf (Eds.), APA handbook of forensic psychology, Vol. 2. Criminal investigation, adjudication, and sentencing outcomes (p. 33–58). American Psychological Association.

References

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  1. ^ Brody, Ben Chapman and Leslie (2020-03-02). "Barnard College Slay Trial to Examine What Teen Suspect Understands". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  2. ^ McDermott/Polaris, Matthew (2019-12-13). "What Have We Learned Since the Central Park Jogger Case?". The Marshall Project. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. ^ "Georgetown University Faculty Directory". gufaculty360.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  4. ^ "YICPM | Training & Technical Assistance". Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  5. ^ "AP-LS 2016 Presidential Address". CONCEPT Professional Training. 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  6. ^ Reppucci, N. Dickon; Britner, Preston A.; Woolard, J. (1997). Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect Through Parental Education. ISBN 978-1557662897.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Woolard, J. L. (1998). "Developmental aspects of judgment and competence in legally relevant contexts". Doctoral Dissertation, University of Virginia: 1.
  8. ^ "A Report from Virginia's Domestic Violence Programs & Sexual Assault Crisis Centers" (PDF).
  9. ^ a b "People". Jennifer Woolard, Ph.D. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  10. ^ "Research Network on Adolescent Development & Juvenile Justice - MacArthur Foundation". www.macfound.org. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  11. ^ Woolard, Jennifer L.; M.p.p, Samantha Harvell; Ph.D, Sandra Graham (2008). "Anticipatory injustice among adolescents: age and racial/ethnic differences in perceived unfairness of the justice system". Behavioral Sciences & the Law. 26 (2): 207–226. doi:10.1002/bsl.805. ISSN 1099-0798. PMID 18344171.
  12. ^ "Interview Series: Jennifer Woolard". Department of Psychology. 2014-09-10. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  13. ^ Cauffman, Elizabeth; Woolard, Jennifer; Reppucci, N. Dickon (1998–1999). "Justice for Juveniles: New Perspectives on Adolescents' Competence and Culpability". QLR. 18: 403.
  14. ^ Woolard, Jennifer L.; Fondacaro, Mark R.; Slobogin, Christopher (2001-02-01). "Informing Juvenile Justice Policy: Directions for Behavioral Science Research". Law and Human Behavior. 25 (1): 13–24. doi:10.1023/A:1005635808317. ISSN 1573-661X. PMID 11276858. S2CID 20600379.
  15. ^ "Family Visitation, Behavioral Incidents, and Staff Safety Concerns in Juvenile Correctional Facilities". Performance-based Standards for Juvenile Programs. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  16. ^ Mikytuck, Alyssa; Woolard, Jennifer (2020). "Research Brief: Increased Family Visitation Leads to Fewer Incidents and Less Staff Fear" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Mikytuck, Alyssa M.; Woolard, Jennifer L. (2019-07-04). "Family contact in juvenile confinement facilities: Analysis of the likelihood of and barriers to contact". Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. 58 (5): 371–397. doi:10.1080/10509674.2019.1615600. ISSN 1050-9674. S2CID 197728855.
  18. ^ Vidal, Sarah; Woolard, Jennifer (2016-07-01). "Parents' perceptions of juvenile probation: Relationship and interaction with juvenile probation officers, parent strategies, and youth's compliance on probation". Children and Youth Services Review. 66: 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.04.019. ISSN 0190-7409.
  19. ^ Moore, Maddy (23 January 2015). "Professor Creates PTSD Pilot". The Hoya.
  20. ^ "Psychology Professor to Evaluate Veterans' Mental Health Program". Georgetown University. 15 December 2014.
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