Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell is an Associate Professor at the University of Oregon School of Law and Faculty Director of the Public Service and Policy Program, holding a courtesy appointment in Philosophy. Her interdisciplinary work bridges criminal law, ethics, and technology to advance justice reform.

Her educational background includes:

• JD from Stanford Law School
• PhD in Philosophy from UNC-Chapel Hill

Professor Bell's research centers on parole systems and sentencing equity, combining normative legal philosophy with empirical analysis and machine learning applications. She critically examines constitutional doctrines while developing computational tools to reduce bias in parole decisions—focusing on dignity, agency, and reparative justice within carceral systems.

Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward technology-driven legal reform, with increasing collaboration between law, computer science, and data ethics to address systemic inequities in parole hearings and sentencing. This work spans constitutional interpretation, empirical studies of juvenile lifer cases, and opioid treatment in prisons.

Award recognitions include:

• Soros Justice Fellow
• Senior Liman Fellow

As Faculty Director, Bell mentors students in public interest law initiatives and has partnered with correctional systems through the Association of State Correctional Administrators on restricted housing reforms. Her collaborative projects with computer scientists represent significant grant-funded innovation in criminal justice technology.

She leads a cross-disciplinary research team integrating legal expertise with machine learning development to create equitable parole decision-support tools, directly applying philosophical ethics to real-world criminal justice applications.