Chase Montagnet, PhD

About

I am a researcher and educator with over 15 years of experience in mixed-methods research, policy evaluation, and project leadership. My work examines crime, criminal justice reform, and institutional decision-making — applying rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods to inform evidence-based policy and practice.

I have studied topics including mass incarceration, religion and offending, collateral consequences of criminal legal system contact, restrictive housing, diversion programs, and probation reform.

I have held positions at RTI International, the Vera Institute of Justice, the Fortune Society, and Rutgers University's School of Criminal Justice, where I have led and contributed to projects funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, among others.

In the classroom, I design discussion-based, applied courses that help students connect data, theory, and lived experience — fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and analytical depth.

Education

PhD, Criminal Justice (with distinction)

Rutgers University · 2023

MS, Criminal Justice Policy (with merit)

London School of Economics · 2012

BS, Psychology (summa cum laude)

College of Charleston · 2009

Methods & expertise

Quantitative analysis (Stata) Qualitative interviewing Mixed methods Difference-in-differences Randomized controlled trials Systematic reviews NVivo · Dedoose Program evaluation Policy analysis

Affiliations

American Society of Criminology
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
Law and Society Association

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

2025

'Losing My Religion'?: Religiosity in the aftermath of incarceration

With Sara Wakefield · Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology, 11(1), 415–440

2025

The effect of pre-release treatment with injectable naltrexone on criminal justice and substance use outcomes: Results from a randomized controlled trial

With C.C. Strange, J.M. Hyatt, K. Powell, & D.D. Langleben · Journal of Experimental Criminology, 1–18

2024

Prosecutor-Led Diversion Unveiled: Lessons and Insights From Implementing Project Reset in Two Jurisdictions

With V. Embry, K. Bechtel, C. Inkpen, & A. Walker · RTI Press

2024

"Worst experience in my life": Conditions of confinement in incarcerated settings during the COVID-19 pandemic

With J. Bowling, A. Azari, & C. Berryessa · Criminal Justice Review, 49(2), 268–285

2023

The variable association between religiosity and delinquency

Crime & Delinquency, 69(10), 2046–2072

Books & book chapters

2022

Impact of incarceration on community public safety and public health

With T.R. Clear · In R. Greifinger (Ed.), Public Health Behind Bars (2nd ed.) · Springer

2019

Parental criminal justice involvement

With S. Wakefield · In J.M. Eddy & J. Poehlmann-Tynan (Eds.), Handbook on Children with Incarcerated Parents (2nd ed.) · Springer

Technical reports

2025

Reforming Probation: System Actors' Perspectives of Georgia Senate Bill 105's Implementation, Impact, and Implications for Public Safety

With E. Burtch, C. Kery, K. Bechtel, C. Inkpen, & P. Lattimore · SSRN

2024

A Systematic Review of Bureau of Justice Assistance FY14 to FY18 Second Chance Act Evaluations: Final Report

With R.M. Labrecque et al. · Bureau of Justice Assistance

2021

The effect of providing pre-release treatment with injectable naltrexone on criminal justice outcomes: Preliminary results

With J. Hyatt, M. Ostermann, & G. Barnes · Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

2021

Restrictive housing practices in America's jails

With J. Pierce & D. Pitts · Vera Institute of Justice

2021

People in jail and prison in spring 2021

With J. Kang-Brown & J. Heiss · Vera Institute of Justice

2021

People in jail and prison in 2020

With J. Kang-Brown & J. Heiss · Vera Institute of Justice

2020

People in prison in 2019

With J. Kang-Brown, E. Schattner-Elmaleh, & O. Hinds · Vera Institute of Justice

2020

Second Chance Pell: A snapshot of the first three years

With R. Delaney · Vera Institute of Justice

2014

Model Programs Guides implementation guides: Background and user perspectives on implementing evidence-based programs

With R. Stephenson et al. · Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

View full list on Google Scholar →

Studying crime,incarceration, andinstitutional change.

Education

Methods & expertise

Affiliations

Studying crime,
incarceration, and
institutional change.