Kayla Hoskins, PhD

In my research, I emphasize the connections between victimization, trauma, and criminal legal system-involvement to analyze system responses to the needs of vulnerable populations, and guide reform initiatives targeting mental and behavioral health disparities. I investigate issues of trauma, substance use and illicit behavior, identity, well-being, and desistance. I frame my scholarship within feminist and critical paradigms to study internal and contextual influences on substance use and illicit behavior, as well as how sociostructural conditions impact adults and youths with intersecting marginalized identities (e.g., traumatized, victimized, gendered, racialized, criminalized).My research presents implications for addressing mental health and treatment disparities among diverse individuals impacted by criminal and juvenile legal systems, and the advancement of gender-responsive and trauma-informed community and correctional services.
My work has been published in Sex Roles, the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Feminist Criminology, the Journal of Community Psychology, Crime & Delinquency, and Women & Criminal Justice.