Wade Jacobsen

Wade Jacobsen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland. His research focuses on institutional and social network influences on youth risk behaviors across developmental stages.

His primary research interests include Criminology, Criminal Justice, Developmental Criminology, Social Network Analysis, Juvenile Justice, and School Discipline. Current work examines how school discipline and criminal justice involvement alter peer networks and behavioral trajectories in children, adolescents, and young adults, with emphasis on institutional pathways like the school-to-prison pipeline.

Dr. Jacobsen's scholarship provides critical insights into systemic factors shaping juvenile delinquency and informs interventions aimed at reducing harmful institutional contacts for vulnerable youth populations.