Scott Decker

Scott H. Decker is Foundation Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. In 2009, he received the University Award for Cutting Edge Research in 2009, and, in 2010, was named a Foundation Professor. Prior to working at ASU, he was Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UM-St. Louis where he received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research in 1989 and, in 2001, was named Curators' Professor. He was named a fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in 2007, was named a fellow of the American Society of Criminology in 2012 and was the Hindelang Lecturer at the University at Albany in 2009. In March 2011, he won the Bruce Smith Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. He is the author of 17 books, more than 150 articles and chapters, and more than 100 presentations in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Central America. His research has been funded by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Professor Decker's primary research focus has been on criminal justice policy, gangs, violence, and the offender’s perspective. Four of his books have won major awards: "Life in the Gang: Family, Friends and Violence" (Cambridge University Press, 1996), "Burglars on the Job: Streetlife and Residential Burglary" (Northeastern University Press, 1994), "Lessons from the Inside: Drug Smugglers on Drug Smuggling" (Temple, 2008) and "European Street Gangs and Troublesome Youth Groups" (Alta Mira, 2005).