@rrr-lab.bsky.social
UC Berkeley’s Risk Resilience Research Lab | Led by Dr. Jennifer Skeem | Advancing justice, safety & well-being through data-driven, policy-relevant research | Partnering with communities to prevent violence & reduce inequality |
We’re analyzing how California makes parole decisions and whether the process is fair and consistent. Our work combines live hearing observations, transcript coding, and data analysis to understand the factors that shape outcomes. Learn more: risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/structuring-...
08.12.2025 21:57 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Meet Anissa Yu!
Second-year Sociology & Economics major at #UCBerkeley assisting with the Risk Resilience Research Lab. She loves translating research into human-centered stories and collaborating with the team. Fun fact: she enjoys photography, jazz piano, and traveling!
#meettheteam
Happy Thanksgiving from the Risk Resilience Lab! We're incredibly grateful for our dedicated team, invaluable partners, and steadfast supporters. Your commitment fuels our work in building safer, stronger communities. Wishing you a holiday filled with rest, joy, and meaningful connections. 💛🦃✨
26.11.2025 17:55 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Meet Pearl Chen!
Third-year Psychology & Public Health major at #UCBerkeley assisting with Playing for Change. She loves connecting with students & seeing them grow. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Fun fact: she loves spontaneous trips, concerts, and photography!
#playing4change
Our trauma-informed de-escalation training at DSH-Napa proved effective: violence decreased, staff confidence increased, 9.2/10 rating. Based on these results, we expanded in 2025: 6 more units trained, 125 staff assessed, 2 new trainers.
🔗 risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/psychiatric-hospital-safety/
Meet Maryam Ghazzali!
Senior Psychology major at #UCBerkeley assisting with Playing for Change. She loves collaborating with the team & watching youth grow through the program. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psych. Fun fact: she loves exploring urban spaces & making snacks! #playingforchange
Can structured tools make parole decisions fairer? We're analyzing 21K+ CA parole hearings to identify racial & socioeconomic disparities and testing whether evidence-based frameworks can improve equity without compromising safety.
🔗 Link: risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/structuring-parole-decisions/
Meet Andrew Dai! Andrew is the Data Analyst for Playing for Change, a science-based program that uses a competitive video game to build social and learning skills in youth. Andrew turns player data into game updates that improve learning and well-being. #MeetTheTeam #UCBerkeley #PlayingForChange
08.11.2025 01:39 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Juvenile fees project in Alameda County: 2,401 youth. Fee repeal cut family obligations ~70% (~$1,583) and shortened probation ~4 months. No change in re-arrest. Read the paper in
Law and Human Behavior: psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d... #JuvenileJustice #FeeRepeal #evidencebased #ucberkeley
Project Feature: Self-Perception of Risk
In 574 psychiatric inpatients, a single self-rating question predicted self-harm/violence within ~2 months - more accurately than clinician judgment and on par with formal tools.
Read more here: risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/self-percept...
#CrisisCare
🔦 Saturday Spotlight: Flashback to our 2023 Criminology & Public Policy article (ASC ’25 finalist). Detention recommendations were 34% higher for Black vs White; ~79% of the gap is policy-driven (esp. criminal history). Read: doi.org/10.1111/1745... #PretrialJustice #PolicyImpact #Criminology
02.11.2025 00:26 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Meet Our Team: Jishan Jiang
She’s a UC Berkeley senior in Legal Studies & Data Science. She's the Data Manager for our lab. She’s interested in the human side of tech and digital workers behind AI. Looking ahead: PhD in Info Science or Sociology focusing on studying science, technology and society.
Honored our 2023 paper on pretrial detention disparities was a finalist for ASC’s 2025 Joan Petersilia Outstanding Article Award. Key takeaways: 34% higher detention-recommendation rate for Black vs. White defendants; most disparity flows through policy factors. Read more: doi.org/10.1111/1745...
28.10.2025 01:09 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Meet JaVon Jamarr Hampton! #UCBerkeley Cognitive Science junior and D-I long jumper with Cal Athletics. In our lab he supports therapeutic interventions and research for Playing for Change. “I joined to get meaningful, hands-on experience.” His favorite game? #Minecraft.
#MeetTheTeam #UCBerkeley
Project Feature: What happens when counties repeal justice fees? In Alameda County, ending fees cut debt ~69% (~$1,616) and shortened probation ~2 months with no rise in re-arrests. Total sanctions still relate to re-arrest.
Learn more at risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/adult-fee-repeal #FeeRepeal
Meet Thijs Doornbos, the programmer of un-TILTED!, a competitive after-school game that builds self-control. He built the game + backend. He tuned the competition so players care, not tilt. “Games shaped me... this is my chance to give back.”
#PlayingForChange #SeriousGames #YouthWellbeing
Author insight: Dr. Luyi Jian of #UAlbany, coauthor on our preprint about prosocial identity. Compassion may be the protective signal. “For lower-risk youth, emphasizing compassion and contribution may be more effective than focusing mainly on rule-following.”
Read: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Stephanie Samson just hit one year as our full-time research assistant. Behind the scenes, she keeps programs on track and coordinates with families as we test a science-based, video game–supported program called Playing for Change #YouthWellbeing #gamesforchange #ResearchImpact #p4c
08.10.2025 16:28 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
We are honored work we were involved in on community treatment is featured in Psychiatric Services’ Editors’ Choice, “Community Correctional Care.” Engagement in community services links to lower short-term reoffending. #EditorsChoice
Explore the collection: psychiatryonline.org/ps/editorsch...
New preprint: Prosocial identity - especially caring for others - predicts lower 1-yr recidivism (N=958). Not moderated by moral internalization, self-efficacy, or social support.
📄 Read More: ssrn.com/abstract=553...
#JuvenileJustice #ProsocialIdentity #EvidenceBased #umass #ualbany #recidivism
Risk Resilience Lab Director Jennifer Skeem joined the PPIC Prop 36 Innovation Day Workshop, helping shape a research agenda on reform impacts. Proud to advance evidence-based policy for safer, healthier, more just communities.
#JusticeReform #PublicPolicy #CommunitySafety
Back in Richmond, CA for a new season of Playing 4 Change with our RA team and new players. P4C builds self-control after school: we train with un-TILTED! and apply skills in tournaments in other games.
Learn more: risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/playing-for-...
#YouthWellbeing #UCBerkeley #p4c
Stay Connected with Risk-Resilience.
Quarterly updates with research highlights, lab stories, and announcements. Each issue is a snapshot of the work shaping the future of risk and resilience delivered right to your inbox just 4x a year.
📩 Sign up: risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/newsletter/
Meet Christian Fernandez! (& Princess!)
Christian is a 4th-year Sociology major & transfer at UC Berkeley. He joined Playing for Change to work with youth & gain research experience.
💬 “I love connecting with kids - their joy reminds me of our impact.”
#UCBerkeley #PlayingForChange #MeetTheTeam
📢 Upcoming Webinar! Join Jennifer Skeem, Gina Vincent PhD & Josh Weber for Youth Protective Factors Study: Key Findings on Risk-Reduction Services
🗓 Sept 24, 12–1:15pm ET. Register: tinyurl.com/YPFS-Webinar
#ProtectiveFactors #ImproveYouthOutcomes
How can we better support youth while improving public safety? Our 3rd brief from the Youth Protective Factors Study shares findings on what drives reoffending among justice-involved youth ages 10–23.
🔗 doi.org/10.13028/m19...
#JuvenileJustice #YouthJustice #EvidenceBasedPolicy #PublicSafety
💡 Featured Project: Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CBI)
We tested adding a CBI to usual services for justice-involved people with mental illness. In RCTs, CBI reduced re-offending when delivered with high fidelity and completed.
Learn More: risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/cognitive-be... #CBI
Meet Anabel. Lab Manager for the Risk-Resilience Lab. UC Berkeley Psych major + Education minor. “Working on Playing for Change, my favorite part is witnessing growth and progress - week after week.” Future plans? Grad school in School Psychology.
#UCBerkeley #MeetTheTeam #SchoolPsychology
🎮 Meet un-TILTED! A fast-paced game co-created with youth and rooted in science. It looks like the games they love while helping them “think slower” in heated situations, in games and in life.
🔗 Learn more: risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/playing-for-...
#SeriousGames #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact
In the News 📰 Our faculty director Dr. Jennifer Skeem joins KQED’s The Latest to talk evidence-based responses to mental health crises - co-responder teams, crisis-intervention training, and smarter 911 triage.
Listen here: youtu.be/tcegpv7d4WI
#MentalHealth #PublicSafety #EvidenceBased
