Division of Research
Research Highlights
Dr. Mary K. Stohr
Department of Criminal Justice
Peter A. Collins
M.A., 2006, Criminal Justice Administration
A comprehensive new book on criminal justice management, written by a Boise State University professor and a graduate student in her department, has just been published by Oxford University Press.
Dr. Mary Stohr, a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Boise State, is the primary author of Criminal Justice Management: Theory and Practice in Justice Centered Organizations. Stohr collaborated with graduate student Peter Collins to write the book.
“This was the best learning experience I’ve ever had. Dr. Stohr is a terrific mentor,” said Collins, who received his M.A. in criminal justice administration from Boise State and is now in a Ph.D. program at Washington State University.
“The learning curve was very steep, and I learned a lot both about the subject matter and the process of writing a book,” Collins added. “Being listed as an author of a book in my field was definitely a factor in getting accepted and funded to every doctoral program I applied for.”
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Stohr said writing the book was a rewarding experience, and that including a graduate student in the project was a win-win situation for everyone. “Pete brought much energy to this project, and he made many valuable contributions,” Stohr said. “I think it was a very successful collaboration.”
The new textbook builds on Stohr’s research and teaching over the past two decades, and incorporates a student-friendly approach, including hands-on exercises and discussions. It has been lauded by reviewers for its clarity, depth and innovation.
“The use of humor and personal descriptions is a great strength to the book,” wrote Thomas Hughes of the University of Louisville. “This is a topic that is hard for students because it is to some degree dry and can be overly formalistic. A book that can engage and teach in this area is a unique commodity.”
Stohr joined Boise State’s faculty in 1993. All of her degrees are from Washington State University, including a Ph.D. in political science, an M.A. in criminal justice and B.A.s in both criminal justice and political science. She is the recipient of a number of awards, including the 2008 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Minorities and Women Section’s “Evelyn Gilbert Unsung Hero Award,” and the 2004 outstanding teaching award from the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs.