Chad Trulson, professor and associate chair of criminal justice, is the co-author of Lost Causes: Blended Sentencing, Second Chances and the Texas Youth Commission (University of Texas Press).

The book examines the recidivism outcomes of delinquent offenders who were part of a unique sentencing law in which they were released early from the Texas Youth Commission if they demonstrated some measure of rehabilitation -- as opposed to being transferred to the Texas prison system.

Trulson worked with juvenile delinquents as a student and served as a parole officer before going into academics.

"This research agenda has been the major foundation for my career," he says.