An Examination of Article Productivity and Influence among Criminology and Criminal Justice Doctoral Faculty, 2015–2021

Abstract

Faculty productivity and influence constitute an important aspect of doctoral program quality. Literature on faculty productivity of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) Ph.D. programs has not yet properly weighted the impact of journal publications in a standardized and objective manner, limiting their analyses to select CCJ journals or the CCJ discipline. This is problematic because CCJ is an interdisciplinary field, and many criminologists publish in highly influential non-CCJ journals. While past assessments have largely neglected citation-based data, the present study analyzes scholarly productivity for the years 2015 to 2021 using a more comprehensive and inclusive method for assessing influence. Based on this study’s productivity measure, the top programs are Florida State University, Pennsylvania State University, Arizona State University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Cincinnati. Findings are situated with prior research and the latest U.S News and World Report rankings.

Keywords:

• Publications
• citation analysis
• h-index
• ranking
• CCJ

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Given the unique nature of the CUNY/John Jay doctoral program and involvement of non-CCJ faculty, we expanded our criteria in this case to include any faculty, regardless of primary departmental affiliation, who it could be argued were "active" in the program between 2015-2021. They must have satisfied at least one of the following in the CCJ Ph.D. program during that time period: (1) taught at least one course in the program; (2) supervised at least one student; and/or (3) served on at least one dissertation committee. We confirmed this information using their publicly available CVs as well as via a colleague at John Jay who served as an additional resource.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alexandra C. Lebron

Alexandra C. Lebron is a doctoral student in International Crime and Justice and Graduate Assistant for the Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership at Florida International University. With a background in anthropology and conservation, her research interests include conservation criminology, illegal wildlife trade, and Indigenous rights. She currently serves as Board Treasurer for the nonprofit organization, Project Primate, Inc. 11200 SW 8th Street, PCA 257 Miami, Florida 33199, P: [phone], E: [email protected]

Nerissa James

Nerissa James is a doctoral student in International Crime and Justice and Teaching Assistant for the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Florida International University. Her research interests are neighborhoods and crime, criminal justice policy, juvenile delinquency, and human trafficking. 11200 SW 8th Street, PCA 257 Miami, Florida 33199, P: [phone], E: [email protected]

Stephen F. Pires

Stephen F. Pires, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He studies the illegal wildlife trade with a particular focus on commonly poached species (i.e. hot products), illicit markets, and the organization of the illegal trade, and has co-authored the book, “Wildlife Crime: An Environmental Criminology and Crime Science Perspective” (2018). 11200 SW 8th Street, PCA 368A Miami, Florida 33199, P: [phone], E. [email protected]

Ellen G. Cohn

Ellen G. Cohn, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and an affiliated faculty member in the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies at Florida International University. As well as studying scholarly influence and prestige in criminology and criminal justice, she currently is engaged in international cross-disciplinary research examining the relationship between crime and immigration. Dr. Cohn is the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers and a recipient of the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Award. 11200 SW 8th Street, PCA 261A Miami, Florida 33199, P: [phone], E: [email protected]