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 affilited professor of criminology and criminal justice in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and of 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 in the Sandra Day O' Connor College of Law.  

Ashford is widely publislled in areas dealing with the assessment, classification, and treatment of special need offenders, juvenile aftercare, 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.  

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