José B. Ashford is a professor of social work and professor of law and behavioral science.  Professor Ashford directs the Office of Offender Diversion and Sentencing Solutions and the Office of Forensic Social Work Research and Training. Ashford is also an affiliated professor of criminology and criminal justice in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and in sociology at ASU, as well as an affiliated professor of applied social science in the Social Science and Economics Department at the Sapienza University of Rome. He coordinates the Certificate in Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy. His research and training lab is located at the Arizona Justice Project.

Ashford is widely published in areas dealing with the assessment, classification, and treatment of special need offenders, psychology and law, recidivism prevention, and forensic social work. He testifies around the country as an expert in the assessment of mitigating factors in capital murder cases and consults in Miller sentencing and resentencing cases.

Among his honors, Ashford was the recipient of the President of the United States Volunteer Service Award from the Points of Light Foundation and Distinguished Alumni Award from the Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Columbus Ohio.  Received the president's award for innovation for significant contributions to the ASU Law and Behavioral Science Initiative.  Invited to serve on a Blue-Ribbon Committee on Rethinking Criminal Violence by the Academy for Justice at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.  

Ashford's research areas of interest include recidivism prevention,  immaturity and culpability assessments, juvenile life sentences, mental health and mitigation of punishment.