John Watts

John Watts is the Director of the Criminal & Restorative Justice Program and an Assistant Professor at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), where he joined in 2023. He holds a D.C.J. from Saint Leo University, an M.S. from Albertus Magnus College, and a B.A. from Charter Oak State College. Dr. Watts has 20 years of experience as a Chief Probation Officer with the Connecticut Judicial Branch and has taught at Gateway Community College since 2016. His research focuses on trauma awareness among justice-involved populations and improving criminal justice professionals' responses to trauma. He is a national trainer with SAMHSA’s GAINS Center and Policy Research Associates, certified as a Criminal Justice Addiction Professional (CCJP) and in Forensic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (F-CBT).

Dr. Watts teaches courses such as Introduction to Criminal Justice, Corrections in America, and Research Methods in Criminal Justice. He is affiliated with the Academy of Criminal Justice and Sciences. No specific scientific awards or grants are noted in the provided text.