Julia Lesnick is a doctoral candidate in social work whose scholarship centers on youth justice and the governance of youth crime. Her research investigates how policies and practices are developed, implemented, and experienced within systems that respond to young people in contact with the law. She focuses on institutional, organizational, and fiscal reforms to youth justice systems, and examines how these policy and practice changes impact youth and public safety.

Her dissertation, “Who governs a decentralized system of youth justice? Realignment, reform, and the battle to reimagine youth justice in California,” uses an in-depth case study of state and county implementation of California’s major 2020 juvenile justice reform bill. The project examines core questions around the governance, power, ideology and logistics of closing state youth prisons, and shifting towards a local model of custody and care for young people with serious, violent convictions.

Julia’s work also explores the broader social, economic, and political forces shaping youth justice. This includes research examining innovative policy and practice interventions such as guaranteed income programs and credible messenger mentoring. Additionally, she examines youth and community organizing to build power and shape youth justice reform agendas, including leading a study of youth voice with formerly incarcerated young people.

Julia is also a practitioner and advocate for justice. After earning her MSW in 2023, Julia became a restorative justice mediator. In this role, she guides youth, families, and harmed parties through structured dialogues aimed at accountability, healing, and diverting young people from formal system involvement. Prior to UCLA Julia served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the NYC Division of Youth and Family Justice, and taught in a prison-based college degree program during her undergraduate studies at Cornell University.