Jacob Young

Jacob Young is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University (ASU), with affiliations at the Center on Technology, Data and Society and the Institute for Social Science Research. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Washington, along with MA and BA degrees in Sociology, Criminology, and Psychology. His research focuses on Network Criminology, Data Science, and Quantitative Methods, examining topics such as prison inmate networks, police technology adoption, and delinquency dynamics.

His work integrates network analysis with criminological theory, addressing issues like social support among incarcerated individuals, the diffusion of body-worn cameras in policing, and the role of peer networks in criminal behavior. He teaches courses on social network analysis, criminological theory, and data science in criminal justice.

Recent research explores prison culture, solitary confinement impacts, and reentry outcomes. His studies often utilize mixed-methods approaches, including longitudinal analyses and experimental designs. Jacob serves as Director of Curriculum for the Institute for Social Science Research and has contributed to projects like the Prison Inmate Network Study and the Women’s Prison Inmate Networks Study (WO-PINS).