A New Theory on Criminal Behavior
After more than 10 years of research, Department of Criminal Justice professor and graduate coordinator Dr. Jeffery T. Walker has introduced the “Ecodynamics Theory” combining mathematics, physical sciences, and social sciences. Where his previous research looked at individual behavior, his Ecodynamics Theory looks at how people interact with their environment, receive feedback, and adjust behaviors.
Earlier this year, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences presented Dr. Walker with the academy’s Founders Award for his research.
Dr. Walker has published 27 peer-reviewed articles in top-ranked journals and has written 20 books or book chapters. His books are standards, with two currently in their seventh editions. He also produced 19 technical reports and other publications and participated in more than 80 conference panels and roundtables at national and regional conferences.
His endeavors have resulted in 29 different funded research projects with awards as high as $8.4 million from agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Walker received a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University. His career began as a researcher on the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on Crime control. He is a full professor in criminal justice at UALR in a joint appointment with the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.