Joe Kuhns Honored as Teaching, Research Award Finalist

Joe Kuhns of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology is one of three nominees for the College’s Integration of Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award. The other two nominees are Paula Connolly of English and Robin James of Philosophy.

Kuhns teaches courses in policing, community policing, drugs and crime, and research methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Prior to arriving at UNC Charlotte, Kuhns served as a Senior Policy Analyst at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

His research has focused on three primary areas. The first is examining the psychopharmacological relationships between alcohol and drug use and violent offending and victimization, and most recently property crimes. The second is the impact of community policing and problem oriented policing, and the third is police use of force and more recently the use of deadly force against the police.

From 2005-2009, he worked with a number of scholars and with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Services to help to reduce violent crime and improve law enforcement services in that developing country. He recently co-edited a new book about police use of force, firearms, and non-lethal weapons in various countries around the world.

Kuhns has co-authored 11 peer reviewed publications and several other scholarship products with current or former students. Many of his technical reports, book chapters and other scholarly products also have involved students. Over a dozen students, including undergraduates, have been hired on various funded projects

“These students have had the opportunity to collect original data in the United States and abroad, visit police departments, present their research at regional and national conferences, integrate data into theses, and use these research experiences in their own research, practitioner or academic careers,” Kuhns said.

A former student who now an assistant professor at another university said she largely models her teaching style after Kuhns and often uses his research to supplement her classroom discussions. “My student and professional development was greatly influenced by the dedication of Dr. Kuhns to integrate research in his curriculum and get students engaged and involved,” she said.