Criminal Justice and CriminologyDale Willits

Dale Willits

  1. Associate Professor
Email Addressdale.willits@wsu.edu
LocationWilson-Short Hall,112A
Phone509-335-8320

Biography

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D., Sociology, 2012, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • M.A. Sociology, 2007, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • B.A. Criminology, 2004, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Profile

Dale Willits, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology who joined WSU in the fall of 2015. Dr. Willits earned his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 2012. His research takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore issues related to crime, justice, and public safety. His current work focuses on policing (race and policing, police-community interactions, and the role of organizational structure in explaining policing outcomes) and drug policy (the effects of drug legalization).

Courses Taught

Quantitative Methods (undergraduate and graduate), Research Methods (undergraduate and graduate), Advanced Research Methods (graduate)

Research Interests

Drug policy, policing, race, research methods, violence, and criminological theory

Research Projects

Dr. Willits is currently working on projects in the following areas: police-citizen encounters, the effects of marijuana decriminalization on policing and crime, the role of marijuana in traffic safety, the situational efficacy of general strain theory for explaining violence, and the role of work in youth delinquency.

His research is currently funded by the National Institute of Justice and the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission.

Recent Honors

  • Excellence in Graduate Teaching, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State  University, 2020
  • Outstanding Faculty Mentor, Criminal Justice & Criminology Graduate Student  Association, Washington State University, 2019
  • Outstanding Faculty Mentor, Criminal Justice & Criminology Graduate Student  Association, Washington State University, 2018
  • Greg and Beth Pierce Fellowship Award, Department of Criminal Justice and  Criminology, 2018
  • Outstanding Faculty Mentor, Criminal Justice & Criminology Graduate Student  Association, Washington State University, 2017

Media Interviews

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