Ofri Rechavy

Ph.D Student

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Criminology at the University of Haifa, where I was awarded the University’s Excellence Scholarship and selected for the Doctoral Excellence Program. Previously, I completed an M.A. in Criminology with a research specialization at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2022. I hold a B.A. in Criminology and Multidisciplinary Social Sciences from Yezreel Valley College (2016).

My Ph.D. research, supervised by Prof. Avital Mentovich, empirically investigates how identity characteristics, punishment ideology, and organizational factors impact prosecutors’ implementation of criminal justice reform, focusing on the Dorner Report.

My scientific interests broadly encompass access to justice for vulnerable and marginalized groups. My master’s thesis, supervised by Dr. Inbal Wilamovsky, delved into women’s experiences of home burglary and their interactions with the police. Furthermore, I have a profound interest in the field of policing individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges, a commitment partly inspired by my sister, who lives with multiple disabilities. My involvement in this area includes active contributions to the Israel Police’s training program for officers on this topic (guided by the C.I.T. model). This initiative encompassed participation in roundtables with station commanders, presenting international models, and contributing to the development of a learning center and training curriculum. I also presented global strategies for policing individuals with mental health challenges and disabilities to a subcommittee of the President of the State, established following the tragic murder of Iyad Khalek.

Alongside my doctoral research, I am a co-researcher in a study examining the implementation of the Dorner/Lemberger report in prosecution and rehabilitation agencies, employing mixed-methods including quantitative, experimental, and qualitative approaches. Additionally, I serve as a Research Assistant at the DRA Lab, focusing on the critical area of trust in AI-based online dispute resolution systems.