La Vigne's research focus includes policing reform, federal corrections reform, reentry from prison, and evidence-based criminal justice practices. On her appointment as Dean of the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice; “I’m thrilled and honored to be returning to Rutgers School of Criminal Justice as its dean. The school’s stellar reputation for strong scholarship and meaningful policy impact in service of safety and justice was what attracted me to enroll as a doctoral student and has continued to inspire me as an alumna,’’ said La Vigne. She served until January 2025. The institute covers policing, forensics, corrections, victimization, violence reduction, juvenile justice, and criminal justice technologies. At a panel discussion at the
University of Tennessee-Knoxville, La Vigne conveyed her commitment to advancing the field's methodologies, bolstering evidence in court proceedings, aiding in the resolution of missing person cases, enhancing public safety, and fostering a more equitable justice system. During La Vigne's tenure as executive director of the Council on Criminal Justice's (CCJ) Task Force on Policing, the CCJ reported a few expected impacts of body-worn cameras: preventing misuse of force, enhancing transparency and accountability, and strengthening community trust. While serving as director of the Justice Policy Center at the
Urban Institute, La Vigne authored a study about
crime in and around Washington, D.C. metro transit stations, showing that different characteristics of a station are significant correlates for particular crime outcomes such as disorderly conduct, robbery, and larceny. One point of advocacy for La Vigne at the Urban Institute was to bring about a more dignified set of terms to describe people with varying interaction with the criminal justice system. She outlined four best practices for encouraging inclusive terminology: be aware, reduce stigma, consider the whole person, and respect preference. From 2014 to 2016, La Vigne served as the director of the
Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections Reform. La Vigne also serves as a regular featured speaker at MPD's DC Police Leadership Academy. == Professional Service ==