Research
Experimental Research
My primary research project focuses on the influence of emotions on juvenile probation decisions by varying situational factors such as the race and ethnicity of the youth as well as the risks that they present to society. I have learned that when evaluators receive formal risk information in the form of standardized assessments, they make reasonable dangerousness and other probation related decisions independent of emotional or racial biases that influence their judgments in the absence of formal risk information.
I presented variations of this work at three research conferences (American Psychology and Law Society, Law and Society Association, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues) and so far have published one paper (Petty & Wiener, 2019) with another in preparation.
Applied Research
Opportunities to explore the workings of the juvenile justice system influence my research questions. I have experience working with local judges, county attorneys, probation administrators and officers, health and human services administrators (e.g., diversion, detention, and police officers) to understand how justice involved youth proceed through the legal system. My applied work reminds me to keep my research questions realistic and ensures high levels of external validity in my experimental work.
Get Involved
If you would like to become a lab member, please contact Dr. Petty (tepetty@usi.edu).