I started my undergraduate education interested in studying human behavior and how it impacts decision-making. I pursued a political science degree with an international relations concentration because I was also interested in learning about conflict resolution strategies on an international scale. I then double-majored in social policy & practice because I wanted to approach problems from a policy standpoint. However, when I took a human rights course, I learned about the multitude of atrocities humans have committed for hundreds of years, and I became interested in discovering more about the psychological factors that contribute to a person’s ability and desire to commit such violent, horrendous acts. Accordingly, I recognized the benefit …show more content…
FFLIC’s mission is to transform the oppressive juvenile justice system in Louisiana into one that provides a nurturing and rehabilitative environment. While interning with FFLIC, I met with the community organizer on a regular basis who has a child currently imprisoned. I listened to his personal experiences with Louisiana’s juvenile justice system and learned about the need for therapeutic environments, interactions, and opportunities for underrepresented prison populations. In order to help FFLIC advocate for policy change at a state level, my colleagues and I authored a white paper that outlined recommendations to reduce recidivism rates for juvenile offenders in Louisiana, such as offering more educational and vocational programs in prisons and implementing community-based alternatives to incarceration. Through my research, I discovered that community-based alternatives that embody therapeutic philosophies, through emphasizing skills training, counseling, and behavioral programs, can be more successful at reducing recidivism than incarceration. This experience prompted my desire to continue research on recidivism reduction in graduate school and learn more about the impact clinical psychology practices can have on reforming the criminal justice