Academy for Justice

11/19/2025

"The U.S. makes up 4.5% of the world's population but constitutes 80% of the world's opioid use. 50% of those opioids come through Arizona." Dr. Michael Dekker - Addiction Psychologist, Arizona Professional's Health Program

On Monday, November 17, the Academy for Justice partnered with the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council for the third year, to bring 101 to Arizona's legislators at the AZ State Capitol. This year's topic focused on Fentanyl & the , a hot topic that was near and dear to many in attendance's hearts. A4J Associate Deputy Director and ASU Law Professor, Ben McJunkin, provided closing remarks.

We are grateful to APAAC and their Executive Director, Elizabeth Ortiz, for their continued partnership on these important discussions.

10/03/2025

Don't forget to register to join us this coming Monday, Oct. 6, for a lunchtime conversation on with Televerde's Michelle Cirocco. RSVP at the link below or scan the QR Code!

RSVP: https://events.law.asu.edu/Event.aspx?eventid=5398

10/01/2025

Join us next Monday, Oct. 6, for a lunchtime conversation on with Televerde's Michelle Cirocco. RSVP at the link below or scan the QR Code!

RSVP: https://events.law.asu.edu/Event.aspx?eventid=5398

04/04/2025

On Wednesday, the Academy for Justice hosted our fourth and final lecture in the Choice Architecture and Criminal Law Series. ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice professor Stacia Stolzenberg spoke about Choice Architecture in Police Investigations: Effective Interviews of Alleged Victims of Child Sexual Abuse. Drawing on the notion of choice architecture and the framing effect, the talk highlighted evidence-based best practices, as well as common challenges, in interviewing alleged victims of child sexual abuse.

A huge thank you to Stacia for her wonderful presentation, and to all of our speakers in this fascinating series that looked at the intersection of choice architecture and criminal law.

04/03/2025

The Academy for Justice co-published a new white paper with the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center at Ohio State. The white paper proposes criteria for non-violent, federal *****na convictions. It concludes by offering next steps for both executive and legislative action.

Read the paper here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5199528

03/26/2025

Allegations of child sexual abuse can be difficult to investigate and prosecute; typically, there is a lack of physical evidence and no eyewitnesses. As such, our ability to elicit accurate, complete, and consistent reports from suspected victims is essential for good legal decision-making. Because of this, researchers have devoted a lot of time and attention to understanding what investigative interviewing protocols should look like.

Join us next Wednesday, April 2, for the fourth and final session of our Choice Architecture and Criminal Law Series, as Stacia Stolzenberg, Associate Professor & Director of M.S. and PhD Programs at the ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, draws on the notion of choice architecture and the framing effect, to give a talk that will highlight evidence-based best practices, as well as common challenges, in interviewing alleged victims of child sexual abuse. Register at the link below.

RSVP: https://events.law.asu.edu/Event.aspx?eventid=4975

03/12/2025

Join us Monday, March 17 for a panel event on Glossip v. Oklahoma. Panelists Amy Knight, Bill Ring and Kent Volkmer will talk about this controversial Supreme Court Case featuring the death penalty and its implications moving forward.

Register: https://specialevents.asu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=835207&

02/07/2025

Join us next Friday, Feb. 14 for "Capital Punishment in Arizona: Emerging Legal Issues." Scan the QR code or click the link to register.
https://events.law.asu.edu/Event.aspx?eventid=4716

02/06/2025

"Built spaces are important moderating mechanisms that significantly influence how “justice” is understood, perceived, and enacted."

Thank you to all who attended Part 3 of our Choice Architecture & Criminal Law Series with ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Assistant Professor, Dr. Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill. Be sure to keep an eye out for part 4, the last in the series, coming soon!

02/05/2025

Don't forget to register and join us tomorrow for Part 3 of our Choice Architecture & Criminal Law Series with ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Professor Dr. Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill.
Register 👉 https://events.law.asu.edu/Event.aspx?eventid=4655

The built environment refers to that portion of space, place, and context that has been altered and designed by humans to suit human needs and wants. The built environment significantly shapes how we perceive, understand, engage, and act upon our world and others in it. Join us for part three of our Choice Architecture and Criminal Law Series where we will be joined by Dr. Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill from ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Dr. Blount-Hill will cover basic environmental psychology paradigms, how they are applied in his work on police and custodial buildings, the results of prior studies and preliminary results of ongoing work, as well as future directions for understanding the architecture of justice processes through lens of environmental psychology and sociology. This is a fascinating discussion you won't want to miss!

Date: Thursday, Feb. 6
Time: 12-1:30 p.m.
Location: BCLS 544
Register: https://specialevents.asu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=831023&

02/03/2025

The built environment refers to that portion of space, place, and context that has been altered and designed by humans to suit human needs and wants. The built environment significantly shapes how we perceive, understand, engage, and act upon our world and others in it. Join us for part three of our Choice Architecture and Criminal Law Series where we will be joined by Dr. Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill from ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Dr. Blount-Hill will cover basic environmental psychology paradigms, how they are applied in his work on police and custodial buildings, the results of prior studies and preliminary results of ongoing work, as well as future directions for understanding the architecture of justice processes through lens of environmental psychology and sociology. This is a fascinating discussion you won't want to miss!

Date: Thursday, Feb. 6
Time: 12-1:30 p.m.
Location: BCLS 544
Register: https://specialevents.asu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=831023&

12/19/2024

“This legislation is groundbreaking. If enacted, it will be the first general expungement statute in federal history, addressing a centuries-old legal gap,” explained Luna. “While pardons eliminate legal penalties, they don’t erase the conviction record, which can hinder access to employment, education and housing. Congressman Armstrong’s bill bridges that gap, offering true second chances for deserving individuals.”

Academy for Justice Faculty Director Erik Luna has been been working hard to get true second chances for presidential pardon recipients through expungements.

In a significant step toward criminal justice reform, the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungements Act (H.R. 10248) has been introduced in Congress, offering new hope to those who have received presidential pardons but still face the lasting consequences of their criminal records.