Research

The Initiative for Law, Societies and Justice

The Initiative brings together over 70 UT affiliates working in 10 colleges, schools, and units to collaborate with each other as well as local practitioners and policymakers to advance scientific knowledge and equity in access to justice. 

We provide seed funding for research-practice partnerships and support the submission and administration of internal and external grants, securing over $10 million in new awards since July 2022.

The Initiative also provides scientific and technical advice to community organizations and institutional partners and hosts a repository of data for use by scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and the public.    

We also host regular workshare meetings to discuss works-in-progress. 

2023 Grant Rewardees

Fatima Varner, Maria Arabbo, and Dr. Courtney Robinson for “Travis County Transformation Project.”

A pre-arrest, community-based pilot program for 15 to 16-year-olds involved with family violence in the home. An alternative to juvenile detention, the Travis County Transformation Project uses restorative justice practices to repair harm, restore connection to community, and prevent future violence.

Monica Munoz Martinez, Gloria Gonzalez-Lopez, Noel Busch-Armendariz and Caitlin Sulley for “Restore Uvalde: Assessing the Impact after Tragedy.”

Restore Uvalde will empirically assess the indicators of social well-being, mental health, and economic impact and corresponding needs following the May 24, 2022, massacre at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. Restore Uvalde will use qualitative methods to systematically document current community conditions, determine community needs (e.g., gaps), and define desired outcomes (e.g., wants or what should be).

Meme Styles and Paulette Blanc for “Interrogating public safety reform metrics using the Measure CARE model.”