Dr. CJ Appleton Brings Visionary Criminal Justice Research to Sanford

Dr. CJ Appleton has joined Sanford School of Public Policy as an Assistant Professor specializing in criminal justice policy. A former athlete who faced many unexpected personal challenges, Dr. Appleton found his calling in criminal justice research. His work has been deeply involved in translational research - how to better connect policy and practice in criminal justice systems – and around the concept of desistance, the process of ending a criminal career. His person-centered research takes a life-course view, looking at how identity, self-concept, and life experiences shape pathways in and out of crime. Learn more about his plans at Sanford as a teacher, mentor, and coach, and how his research is not just an academic exercise, it is about transformative change and hope for better policies as a result.