Broadly speaking, I am interested in the sociology of crime. Much of my work revolves around understanding the correspondence between crime and dynamic social contexts and life circumstances. I examine how life course events and processes shape stability and change in criminal and violent behaviour. For example, my recent work focuses on how social relationships are related to whether and to what extent individuals commit crime and/or are victims of crime. Within this framework, I ask such questions as:
1) How is mothering related to women's commission of non-violent and violent crime?
2) Do parolees' ties to individuals and communities shape their risk of recidivism?
3) Does relationship symmetry predict whether individuals fight over 'trivial' versus substantive issues in their physically violent altercations?
4) Does the presence and age of children in households shape adult victimization risk?