Hay’s research examines the causes and prevention of crime with special attention to the family environment, the development of self-control, and policy efforts to reduce juvenile crime.

Research Interests

Empirical test of theories of crime causation | Causes and consequences of low self-control | Life course criminology | Delinquency-reduction policy and programming | Offender re-entry

Education

Ph.D. 1999, The University of Texas at Austin; Sociology

M.A. 1995, The University of Texas at Austin; Sociology

B.A. 1993, Southwestern University; Economics

Grants

Residential Positive Achievement Change Tool (R-PACT) Validation. Awarded in 2012, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice ($82,659).

Scholarships for Service for FSU M.S. Computer Criminology and CNSA Students and Supplement (Co-PI; PI: Michael Burmester). 2013-17, National Science Foundation ($1,393,866).

Validation study of the Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol. 2016, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice ($55,000).

Predicting reoffending: Improving the Validity of Risk Assessment in the Florida Juvenile Justice System (Co-PIs: Carter Hay, Jennifer Copp, and Brian Stults). 2017-2018, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice ($207,817).

Recent Publications

Hay, Carter, Alex Widdowson, and Brae Campion. 2018. “Self-control stability and change among incarcerated juvenile offenders.” Journal of Criminal Justice.

Hay, Carter, Samantha Ladwig, and Brae Campion. 2017. “Tracing the Rise of Evidence-Based Juvenile Justice in Florida.” Victims & Offenders.

Hay, Carter, Alex Widdowson, Meg Bates, Michael T. Baglivio, Katherine Jackowski, and Mark Greenwald. 2017. “Predicting Recidivism among Released Juvenile Offenders in Florida: An Evaluation of the Residential Positive Achievement Change Tool.” Youth Violence & Juvenile Justice.

Hay, Carter, Ryan C. Meldrum, Alex O. Widdowson, and Alex R. Piquero. 2017. “Early Aggression and Later Delinquency: Considering the Redirecting Role of Good Parenting.” Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice.

Widdowson, Alex O., Sonja E. Siennick, Carter Hay. 2016. “The Implications of Arrest for College Enrollment: An Analysis of Long-Term Effects and Mediating Mechanisms.” Criminology 54:621-652.

Selected Publications

Hay, Carter, and Ryan Meldrum. 2016. Self-Control and Crime over the Life Course. Los Angeles: Sage.

Hay, Carter, and Walter Forrest. 2008. “Self-Control and The Concept of Opportunity: The Case for a More Systematic Union.” Criminology 46:1039-1072.

Hay, Carter, Edward Fortson, Dusten Hollist, Irshad Altheimer, and Lonnie Schaible. 2006. “The Impact of Community Disadvantage on the Relationship between the Family and Juvenile Crime.” Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 43:326-356.

Hay, Carter, and Walter Forrest. 2006. “The Development of Self-Control: Examining Self-Control Theory's Stability Thesis.” Criminology 44:739-774.

Hay, Carter. 2001. “Parenting, Low Self-Control, and Delinquency: A Test of Self-Control Theory.” Criminology 39:707–736.