Our Mission

The mission of the Justice Research and Policy Center (JRAP) is to cultivate, support, and disseminate research that is relevant to the state of Arkansas. We aim to provide data-driven research to legislatures and policymakers, collaborate with state agencies, conduct program evaluations, and promote evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism and improve public safety.

Our Services

  • Program Evaluations
  • Data Design and Management
  • Data Collection and Analysis
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Research
  • Mapping & Spatial Analysis

Current Projects

  • Arkansas State Police Efficiency – Department of Public Safety
  • Group Violence Intervention Program Evaluation – City of Pine Bluff
  • FOCUS Court Reentry Evaluation – US Probation Western District of Arkansas
  • RED Data Collection and Analysis for Arkansas – Arkansas Division of Youth Services
  • Arkansas Bail Project – Arkansas Bail Association

Our Team

  • Tusty ten Bensel, Ph.D. – Director
  • Lacey Roughton, Ph.D. – Research Associate
  • Robert Lytle, Ph.D. – Associate Professor
  • Richard Lewis, Ph.D. – Associate Professor

Contact us

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Tusty ten Bensel
Director, Justice Research and Policy Center
Email: [email protected]