Jessica Asscher

Prof. Jessica Asscher is a Professor of Forensic Child and Youth Care Sciences and Head of the Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies at Utrecht University’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She specializes in forensic psychology, judicial interventions, and youth delinquency prevention. Her research focuses on effective interventions for at-risk youth, including forensic youth care programs like Forensic Ambulant Systemic Therapy (FAST) and evaluations of youth probation systems. Asscher has held leadership roles in national committees, including the Council for the Administration of Criminal Justice and Youth Protection, and supervises PhD candidates in criminology and forensic studies.

Education: Psychology (Leiden University), Master’s in Developmental and Educational Psychology (cum laude), PhD in Home-Start parenting support program evaluation (University of Amsterdam).

Research Themes: Dynamics of Youth (DoY), forensic interventions for juvenile offenders, and evidence-based youth care. Awards include grants from NWO, EU, and the Dutch Science Agenda. She teaches courses on juvenile crime, youth protection, and judicial interventions in Utrecht’s Pedagogical Sciences program.