Caitlin Cavanagh

Caitlin Cavanagh is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, with a joint affiliation in the Department of Psychology. She holds a PhD (2016), MA (2013), and BA (2011) from the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Rochester, respectively. Her research bridges psychology and law, focusing on adolescent development, juvenile justice systems, and family dynamics in legal contexts.

• Key research themes: adolescent behavior, legal socialization, and family justice interactions
• Collaborations: Ingham County Juvenile Court, Child Protective Services, Ingham County Youth Center

Current projects include:

• The Siblings Study: examines reciprocal impacts of juvenile justice system contact on sibling relationships
• Juvenile Risk Assessment Study: evaluates predictive validity of risk assessments for drug relapse and recidivism
• Short-Term Detention Study: assesses program efficacy in detention facilities
• Adolescent Sleep & Social Development Study: compares social and sleep patterns in incarcerated, probation, and non-arrested youth

Her work emphasizes developmentally informed reforms to juvenile justice practices, particularly addressing mental health, familial incarceration, and pandemic-related stressors. Publications span journals like Annual Review of Criminology, Child Development Perspectives, and Journal of Family Issues.