The Advancing Research in Corrections (ARC) Lab, based in the UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, conducts applied and theoretical research on institutional corrections, community corrections, and reentry.

Our work focuses on analyzing real-world correctional systems using rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods. Rather than studying policy in the abstract, we examine how policies, practices, and programs function in context, using data to evaluate outcomes, identify gaps, and inform more effective, equitable, and transparent approaches to corrections.

The ARC Lab Team

ARC brings together faculty, research staff, and graduate researchers working on shared questions about correctional policy, practice, and outcomes. The lab operates as a collaborative research environment where projects are developed, analyzed, and carried forward across teams.

Lab members contribute to ongoing research, engage with applied data, and participate in work that connects academic research to policy and practice in corrections.

Research and Collaboration

ARC works closely with SCCJ faculty, the Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR), the Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI), and a range of community, state, and federal partners. These collaborations allow the lab to conduct research using administrative data, collect primary data, evaluate active programs, and contribute to ongoing policy discussions.

Graduate students in the lab are involved in this work as part of ongoing projects, gaining experience with applied data, research design, and evaluation in real-world correctional contexts.