UROP Project
Guns; violence; court; policy; crime
Research Mentor: Dr. or Prof. Emma Fridel, She/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology and Criminal Justice , Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: efridel@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. or Prof. Jillian Turanovic
Faculty Collaborators Email: jturanovic@fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology and Criminal Justice , Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: efridel@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. or Prof. Jillian Turanovic
Faculty Collaborators Email: jturanovic@fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Thursday September 5th, 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94606482484
Thursday September 5th, 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91635786880
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Thursday September 5th, 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94606482484
Thursday September 5th, 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91635786880
Project Description
Following the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida passed "red flag laws" to reduce gun violence. Formally known as risk protection orders (RPOs), red flag laws establish a civil court process to temporarily prohibit the purchase and possession of firearms by persons deemed to be dangerous to themselves or to others. Despite their popularity, little research has explored the impact and implementation of red flag laws, and virtually no prior work has focused on Florida. This project seeks to compile a large, multilevel, statewide dataset on all RPOs issued from 2018 through 2023 in Florida to determine the individual characteristics associated with RPOs, including features of RPO cases and respondents (e.g., respondent risk factors, weapon information, precipitating circumstances, and order characteristics).Research Tasks: Data collection: Research assistants will read court case files on risk protection order cases in Florida and code key information using an online data collection platform. Students will be able to set their own schedules and work remotely, but are expected to attend training sessions and group meetings in person.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: None required.
Recommended: Experience reading court cases and/or coding documents.
Mentoring Philosophy
As a UROP mentor, my goal is to immerse students in every step of the research process and allow them to get hands-on experience. Students aren't just working for me--they are working with me and learning how to navigate challenges, work collaboratively as a team, and identify ways to improve the project moving forward.My relationships with students are based on mutual trust and accountability, where mentees are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback on their experiences. Communication is key--I expect students to meet deadlines and be upfront about any challenges or delays they are facing so that we can work through them together.
Beyond the actual project itself, a mentor relationship involves sharing my personal experiences and guiding students as they consider future career options, regardless of whether their chosen path ultimately involves research or overlaps with my own interests. My undergraduate mentors in biology and neuroscience, for example, encouraged me to pursue a graduate degree in criminology, a choice that ultimately changed my life for the better. I still value their advice and keep in touch with them to this day, and hope to pay it forward by developing similar relationships with the next generation.