In the Media
Stamford Advocate: Disinformation & backlash: CT experts on recipe for Capitol riot
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on what makes people become extremists.
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Visit PageJ.D., George Washington University
M.A., University of London
B.A., University of Connecticut
Mike Lawlor is a nationally recognized expert on criminal justice reform which was a major focus of his 24 years as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and as former Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning in the Office of Policy and Management.
Elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1986 representing East Haven’s 99th district, he chaired the House Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2011, taking a leadership role in a wide variety of criminal justice reforms, including a law that established rights for crime victims.
He was a founding board member of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and he’s served on numerous national criminal justice reform commissions. He also led the push for legislation that made Connecticut the second state in the nation to pass a law allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions.
As a member of Governor Malloy’s administration, Prof. Lawlor developed and implemented initiatives including juvenile justice, bail, and drug policy reforms; post Sandy Hook gun control legislation, and repeal of the death penalty, as well as initiatives that addressed racial disparities in the criminal justice system and mass incarceration.
Those initiatives helped lead to a 41 percent drop in arrests in the state from 2008 to 2017, a decrease in violent crime, and a 65 percent decrease – from 2009 to 2018 – of 18 year olds committing crimes, getting arrested and ending up in the prison system. The state’s prison population also decreased from 20,000 inmates in 2008 to 13,000 in 2019.
Prof. Lawlor current focus is on is researching, writing, and collaborating with students on policy reforms, including new criminal justice policies for adults ages 18 to 21; developing initiatives to help prosecutors categorize offenders; and creating new sanctions that could help lead low-level offenders away from further criminal activity.
He is working to involve undergraduates and graduates in the University’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences in a Yale Law School project. Yale Law students and faculty are working to make certain that when people violate parole, they’re given a fair hearing with attorney representation. Prof. Lawlor envisions pairing Lee College students with Yale Law students to share their knowledge of criminal investigations and forensic science.
Prof. Lawlor, who has been a faculty member at the University since 1995, teaches courses in criminal law and criminal procedure.
Prof. Lawlor received his J.D. from George Washington University, his M.A. in Soviet area studies from the University of London, and his B.A. in Slavic and Eastern European studies from the University of Connecticut. He also previously earned a Fulbright-Hays scholarship that enabled him to study in Hungary.
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In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on what makes people become extremists.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on why Capitol police were unable to handle the protest that turned quickly into a riot.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about the changes that will now happen to capitol building across the country as a result of the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on how specially trained police dispatchers can send clinicians or health professionals instead of police officers or ambulances on certain police calls.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, VH Whiting Task Force co-chair, comments that a new facility may be the best way to help the community rather than relying on the criminal justice system.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the legislature giving Governor Lamont the authority to act with emergency power amid the pandemic.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments that there are more guns than responsible gun owners.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments that increasing punishment for juveniles is not the answer to an increase in crime.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on how the state parole board has been governed by different administrations.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, was among the academic and subject-matter experts of statewide and national acclaim to serve as volunteers on local boards and commissions in New Haven.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about the elections, Electoral College and the highest number of absentee ballots in election history.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about police reform, criminal justice and project longevity.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the recent decision by the Catholic Church on same sex civil unions.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the recent decision by the Catholic Church on same sex civil unions.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, has been added to the Board of Police Commissioners in a unanimous vote.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the decrease in prisons populations.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate profess of criminal justice, co-wrote an op-ed on lifting the ban on Pell grants.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, was named a notable who changed the world.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about the SCOTUS nomination and the election just weeks away.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on why people steal lawn signs.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, has been nominated to the Board of Police Commissioners by New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the trends that have been driving historically low crime rates.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the data being a part of reforms passed in recent years.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, commented that schools could probably take legal actions against parents knowingly sending their ill children to class.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, has been nominated to New Haven Board of Police Commissioners.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about the legal responsibilities of knowingly spreading COVID-19.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, has been nominated to serve on the Board of Police Commissioners in New Haven.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about the how the political fight has begun for the Supreme Court vacancy.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about the timing for nominating the next Supreme Court justice.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks about what a vacancy in the Supreme Court means so close to the presidential election.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the trend in violent crimes.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on how police and courts are dealing with mental illness.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on where the gun violence spike is stemming from.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, talks to Sean Burke about his career and criminal justice reform.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, wrote an op-ed on what politicians should do when they receive information of a crime.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of Criminal Justice, comments on the importance of having full transparency and full disclosure for law enforcement.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, comments on a proposal for a civilian review board for police.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, comments on limitations applied to police officers over immunity.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, comments on the law enforcement accountability bill before the state legislators.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, comments on how local governments need oversight into their police departments for violation of constitutional matters.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on unions getting protections written into contracts that limit the ability to hold police accountable.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, wrote an opinion piece on the milestone passed this week in criminal justice.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the governor’s maturity and empathy in handling the daily press briefings.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, comments on the use of deadly force in police departments.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the number of responsibilities that police are tasked with doing.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the tightening policies in the use of deadly force by police.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on prisoners with serious mental health needs.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on how officers should receive better training in use of force situations.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the hearings on police reform and the President signing an executive order on police accountability.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on police purchasing military equipment.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, wrote an op-ed on three policy changes to expand criminal justice fairly to all residents.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the resignation of the Corrections Commissioner.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the purchase of military equipment for state and local police.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on defunding police in the community.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, comments that the calmness of recent protests is from a decade of reform and reevaluation of policing in Connecticut and nationwide.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, assistant professor of criminal justice, comments on how pre-trial releases could prevent the spread of coronavirus in the prison population.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on juvenile justice reforms from 10 years ago helping this decline.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on possible change in policy requiring all police officers to wear body cameras.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the recommendations made by the Obama police task force.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the number of cases in prisons for workers and inmates.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the expansion of testing in prisons for workers and inmates.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the prison population shrinking because of reform.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice and Summer Johnson McGee, dean of the School of Health Sciences, discussed life after coronavirus as part of a panel of experts in their fields.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, penned an op-ed on criminal justice post pandemic.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the downward trend of incarceration rates.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses home confinement as a way to reduce the spreading of the coronavirus in prisons.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on correctional officers shortages and the risk of prison rioting.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the impact of the coronavirus on those working on the front lines of criminal justice.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the need to put preventative measures in place to lessen the spread of the coronavirus.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, writes his opinion during the pandemic on the safety of correctional professionals and inmates.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, wrote an op-ed piece about the coronavirus and the prison population.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on proposed legislation to further gun measures in New York.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the impeachment process from Governor John Rowland to President Trump and the delayed vote on Connecticut tolls.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, appeared on New Haven Independent Radio discussing criminal justice, politics and impeachment.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments about the state’s deadly weapons offender list becoming public.
In the Media
Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the reasons for the decline in Connecticut’s prison population.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses Connecticut’s declining crime rates after the release of the FBI’s 2019 Crime Statistics.
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Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the impeachment process and evaluating whistleblower credibility.
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Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses complications faced by prison populations eligible to vote.
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Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, explains the political nature of the impeachment process.
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Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the impeachment process as a former member of the Connecticut Select Committee of Inquiry considering the impeachment of Governor John G. Roland.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the increased use of the red flag law he authored as a Connecticut lawmaker in 1999 in other states.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the impact of the "red flag" gun law he authored as a Connecticut lawmaker in 1999.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses Connecticut’s Red Flag Gun Law that he authored as a state lawmaker in 1999.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses suicide prevention protocols in Connecticut prisons.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses archbishop William Lori as a former state representative.
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Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on ruling that the conditions imposed on former death row inmates by the state of Connecticut.
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Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, reflects on Chief prosecutor Kevin Kane’s retirement announcement.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discussed the 1999 Red Flag Gun law he authored as a member of the House of Representatives.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the reasons why the number of suicides that occur in Connecticut prisons remains low.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the Connecticut Red Flag gun law he worked on in 1999 as a former state lawmaker, now being considered a national tool to combat mass shootings.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, and William (Bill) Carbone, senior lecturer and director of experiential education at the Tow Youth Justice Institute, comment on the recent decline in the number of juvenile offenders at Manson Youth Institution.
The Charger Blog
Professor Mike Lawlor is part of a national group working to change the way 18- to 25-year olds are treated in the criminal justice system, and he hopes to create a clinical program that University of New Haven students can be a part of.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses Connecticut’s red flag gun law. As a state representative, he helped craft the law that allows police to seize the firearms of people who may be a threat to themselves or others. The legislation, passed in 1999, is the oldest such law of its kind in the nation.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses mental health, gun safety, and Connecticut’s Red Flag Law in response to statements made by the President.
In the Media
In light of recent mass shootings, Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the role he has played as a state legislator and as the undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning under former Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy in shaping the state’s gun laws.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses shaping the state’s gun laws after the recent mass shootings.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the role of budget cuts in the reduction of available jail diversion beds in Connecticut.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the future of Whiting Forensic Hospital as co-chair of the state task force charged with reviewing the facility.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the presence of patients who pose no risk to the community at Whiting Forensic Hospital, a maximum-security psychiatric facility.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, former state representative and associate professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven, comments on the performances of Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg at the latest Democratic presidential debate.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, pens this article on the success of Connecticut’s "red flag law" that was originally met with skepticism, but has since saved "dozens, if not hundreds" of lives.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, co-chairs the CVH Whiting Task Force, which was established to review and evaluate the operations, conditions, culture and finances of Connecticut Valley Hospital and Whiting Forensic Hospital after patient abuse allegations surfaced last year.
In the Media
Associate professors of criminal justice John DeCarlo and Michael Lawlor discuss the importance of the state’s analysis of police data in light of a recent fatal shooting during a traffic stop in Wethersfield.
The Charger Blog
Mike Lawlor, a former state legislator, prosecutor, and policy maker, returned to the classroom full-time this semester after eight years overseeing criminal justice reform efforts as a member of the administration of former Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy.
The Charger Blog
Mike Lawlor, a former state legislator, prosecutor, and policy maker, returned to the classroom full-time this semester after eight years overseeing criminal justice reform efforts as a member of the administration of former Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, authors this op-ed regarding the effectiveness of the juvenile justice reforms enacted over the last ten years in Connecticut.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on his time working with Scott Semple, Connecticut’s former correction commissioner, who was profiled for his work leading justice reform in the state.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, authors a viewpoint article discussing Connecticut’s recent decline in prison population.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice and former prosecutor, tweets out that Connecticut’s total prison and jail population is at a low.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comments on the process taken to help engineer a sizeable decline in Connecticut’s prison population.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, explains the likelihood of someone actually receiving the death penalty and his thoughts on Connecticut’s change in policy.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, offers some advice for congress regarding the recent wide-ranging investigation into potential misconduct by President Trump.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, shares his opinions on the new proposed juvenile justice bill and whether or not it will have an effect on current criminal behavior.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, discusses the possible outcomes of the proposed changes to the legislation might have.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, joins Fox 61 on inauguration day for the new governor, Ned Lamont. Lawlor speaks about his time with the former governor Malloy and about the transitions between the different governors he worked with during his time in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, an associate professor of criminal justice, reflects on the strides he has made in the field of criminal justice reform. Lawlor, who worked together with Malloy on the Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission, will be returning to teach at the University of New Haven.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, an associate professor of criminal justice, reflects on the achievements made in 2018 with the criminal justice system. Lawlor has been thanked for his tireless efforts in tackling criminal justice issues.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, an associate professor of criminal justice, looks back on his days as a state legislator. Lawlor along with other members of the Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission held their final meeting last week and took a look back on the positive changes they managed in the criminal justice system.
In the Media
Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice who is on leave to serve as Connecticut’s undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning at the Office of Policy and Management., comments on improves made to the criminal justice system while under the leadership of Gov. Dannel Malloy. This story originally was in the New Haven Independent.