Adam Trahan

Dr. Adam Trahan is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas. He holds a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Indiana University, Bloomington, and degrees in criminal justice and criminology from Sam Houston State University.

• Education: B.A. and M.A. from Sam Houston State University; Ph.D. from Indiana University, Bloomington

His research focuses on capital punishment, jury behavior, and the collateral consequences of incarceration, particularly on families. He has contributed to studies on:

• Public attitudes toward punitive policies
• EU influence on death penalty opinions in Albania
• Stigma experienced by families of sex offenders
• Intersectional disparities in capital punishment support

His recent publications analyze:

• How economic insecurity affects punitive attitudes toward immigrants (2022)
• EU messaging’s impact on public support for the death penalty (2022)
• Secondary stigma and health effects on families of incarcerated individuals (2021)
• Racial, gender, and class dynamics in capital punishment opinions (2019)

He collaborates with researchers across institutions, including Indiana University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the University of North Texas, and has presented findings to criminal justice agencies nationwide.