A researcher from Florida State University’s College of Criminology & Criminal Justice has been named editor-in-chief of a leading criminology journal.
Daniel Mears, Distinguished Research Professor and Mark C. Stafford Professor of Criminology, will lead editorial work for Justice Quarterly, which is published by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Mears will share the editor-in-chief title with Joshua Cochran at the University of Cincinnati. Cochran earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at FSU.
Mears said under their editorship, they will emphasize science in research that translates into real-word policies and practices.
“The editorship is an opportunity to help draw attention to work that will make a substantial and long-lasting contribution, to translational criminology, and to some areas that don’t always receive as much attention, such as theoretical advances and the use of mixed-methods approaches to research,” he said. Why the emphasis on translational criminology? “It is one thing to identify an interesting finding and put it out there into the universe, but it’s not always clear what you do with that information.”
He added: “For us, the challenge of advancing science in our field and, at the same time, of contributing to efforts that translate the research in ways that make it useful for practitioners and policymakers, is exciting.”
Mears said his partnership with Cochran dates back to the latter’s time at FSU and is part of the appeal of the co-editorship.
“We have worked together on books and projects through the years and we know each other really well,” he said. “We have a common vision and that is one of the reasons I am looking forward to this opportunity.”
The selection of a current professor and a two-degree graduate from College of Criminology & Criminal Justice is a recognition of the deep commitment to research and translational work among the faculty and the Dean of the College, Mears said.
“Our goal is to continue that commitment,” he said. “It’s an honor that I am looking forward to and I’m hoping it’s going to be a fun ride.”
For more information, visit the Corrections Research and Policy Institute.