Studies

Cartoon, appearing like a Monopoly "Go to Jail" card, states, "Immigration Court: Go directly to Appeal. Do not go to hearing. Do not waste time driving."

A Study of Attorney Impact on Immigration Hearings

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Immigration court has a numbers problem. It had 3.3 million active pending cases as of March 2026. The U.S. government assures the presence of a Department of Homeland Security attorney serving as opposing counsel in every immigration proceeding. But only 37 percent of immigrants, and just 14 percent of detained immigrants, have legal representation themselves. This mismatch between supply and demand (or rather, need) makes it ripe for the randomized controlled trial we’re pursuing.

Cartoon depicting two figures in an immigration detention center -- a shark representing a lawyer piling papers in the hands of a cat, representing an immigrant

A Study of Legal Aid for Immigration Cases

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A recent study from the Vera Institute of Justice studied the effect of legal representation on detained immigrants’ likelihood of being granted a release on bond, a temporary stay relief, or a guaranteed permanent relief from deportation. The findings point to better ways, and better timing, to support individuals to strengthen due process.

Cartoon depicting a judge smashing a laptop in which a Zoom meeting took place.

Pro Se Perceptions of Fairness in Remote and In-Person Court

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Which is better—in-person or virtual court hearings? That is the basic question at the heart of the Access to Justice Lab’s Online Courts study. While the lab studied the relevant quantitative data to help courts in family law cases, our study partner Emily LaGratta sought to answer the same question through a qualitative study, seeking answers from the perspective of self-represented litigants in family law cases. Measuring litigant satisfaction with effectiveness for court procedures should, in theory, determine the “best” medium for court proceedings, right?

Cartoon depicting the aftermath of an expungement party in which the individual does not feel better after obtaining an expungement order

The Expungement Experiment: Housing and Happiness Outcomes

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In this third post about the Final Stage Reentry Project, we focus on the impact expungement has on housing and on identity and overall life satisfaction. Despite our hypothesis that a clear record would clear the way for housing and happiness, expungement once again had no impact. We dig into these results and the potential reasons for the findings.

Cartoon depicting two individuals at an expungement party discussing how one can't find a job and the other is dissatisfied at the same job.

The Expungement Experiment: Impact on Employment

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Criminal record clearing may help individuals attain jobs, housing, and life satisfaction, according to many criminal justice system reformers. This week, we look at the A2J Lab’s long-running expungement study and the impact of record clearing on employment–a reason 84 percent of our study participants cited for wanting an expungement. The results surprised researchers and clarified policy needs for effective expungement outcomes.

Cartoon depicting an "expungement party" with a blindfolded donkey playing "pin the expungement", showing the challenges associated with obtaining an expungement

The Expungement Experiment: Effectiveness of Legal Aid 

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Would-be criminal justice system reformers have long believed that a criminal record inhibits the search for secure employment, housing, and life happiness, and those problems in turn lead to increased recidivism. For reformers, the answer to these challenges has been some kind of criminal justice record clearing. But that theory has only some evidence to support it. In this first of three posts, the A2J Lab dives into its long-running randomized controlled trial in Kansas studying expungement’s impact on reentry outcomes.

Cartoon depicting a lawyer helping a tenant navigate an eviction hearing

When Lawyers Matter Most: Lessons from Legal Assistance During Evictions

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The premise of right-to-counsel programs is straightforward: if tenants are at risk of losing their homes, and landlords usually have lawyers, then tenants should have lawyers too. But do lawyers actually prevent evictions? And if they do, is it because they win legal arguments in court, or because they help tenants navigate the broader system surrounding eviction? Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial to learn more.

Cartoon depicting a mother and child on a stage between a bear representing Mother Up and holding cash out to them and a monkey representing Child Protection Services and being pulled off the stage.

Turning Proof into Policy: Evidence for Guaranteed Income to Support Black Mothers

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The Mother Up project has grown from a small six-person study to the expanded and currently enrolling Phase III study now underway. Throughout, Mother’s Outreach Network has been building evidence to show that financial support, in addition to a network of social and legal help, can help Black mothers avoid entanglement with child welfare agencies. The leader of the organization offers her vision on the project and reaction to the results so far.

Cartoon depicting Mothers Outreach Network (as a bear) giving money to a mother and child (drawn as horses) to buy (horse) shoes.

Testing the Poverty-Child Welfare Connection: Pre-Pilot Study Explores Guaranteed Income

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The “Mother Up” pre-pilot program is an evaluation of a guaranteed income project targeting Black mothers in Washington, DC, who are in danger of getting involved with the child welfare system. Studying the efficacy of the program provided the A2J Lab with enough solid data to pursue it on a larger scale and bring an evidence-based voice to the discussion on poverty’s link to child welfare.

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