Naomi Goldstein

Naomi E. Goldstein, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology, Co-Director of the JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology, and Director of the Juvenile Justice Research and Reform (JJR&R) Lab at Drexel University. Dr. Goldstein collaborates with community stakeholders to use social science research to improve juvenile justice policy and practice.

In partnership with juvenile justice agencies, she conducts translational research to guide large-scale system change, leads implementation projects to promote high-quality dissemination of juvenile justice reforms, and evaluates the effects of new programs and policy changes on youth and communities. For more than 20 years, her interdisciplinary work has emphasized the role of adolescent development in legal decision-making, justice-system policies and practices, and legal outcomes. She currently focuses on cross-systems efforts to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, reform juvenile probation systems, establish positive police practices, and address racial and ethnic inequalities in the justice system.

Dr. Goldstein has served as primary investigator, co-investigator, or consultant on more than $20 million in federal, state, and foundation grants and has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, books, forensic assessment tools, juvenile justice treatment manuals, and police training curricula. Dr. Goldstein has authored, co-authored, and contributed to national and state juvenile justice legislation, policy reports, and amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, she has served on the editorial boards of multiple academic journals, national organizations' strategic planning and research advisory committees, and juvenile justice work groups and policy committees. Using her translational research and implementation science expertise, Dr. Goldstein and her interdisciplinary Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab also provide training and technical assistance to jurisdictions and agencies seeking to enhance their juvenile justice systems.