Our Mission

The Presley Center of Crime & Justice Studies is an interdisciplinary academic center, housed within the UCR School of Public Policy, that is dedicated to conducting rigorous empirical research on issues related to criminal justice in the state of California and beyond. This includes applied and theoretical studies that help inform evidence-based practice by providing an objective basis for policy and program improvements. The Center aims to bridge the divide between scholarship and practice by connecting its research with state- and regional-criminal justice practitioners, community-based organizations, and policymakers through contracted work, public events, stakeholder convenings, and sustained community engagement.

News & Updates 

• Awarded a second contract with the California Workforce Development Board to evaluate California’s investment in P2E

• Placed 13 students with regional criminal justice agencies for 6-month internships

• Awarded 4 Presley Student Scholarships to justice-impacted undergraduates


• Awarded 2 research fellowships to promising doctoral students whose research is material to criminal justice in CA