Tara Opsal is an associate professor of sociology at Colorado State University. Her research focuses on the criminal justice system. In particular, she studies the criminal legal system and the consequences of sentencing and correctional policy, especially for women.  

Opsal has conducted research on community corrections, parole, reentry from prison, foster youth and bystander programming in the juvenile justice context. She is especially committed to working with practitioners in nonprofits and government agencies to help bridge the gap between research and practice.  

Some of her recent work also focuses on understanding the way that prisons produce environmental harm and the public health risks for the incarcerated and surrounding communities.  

Opsal earned her Ph.D in sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder.