David Myers

David Myers, Ph.D. is a Professor and Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at the University of New Haven, within the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. He has been at the University of New Haven since 2016, bringing extensive experience from his previous position as a Professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Criminal Justice from University of Maryland, College Park (1999)
• Master of Science in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University (1994)
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Shippensburg University (1989)

Dr. Myers specializes in criminal justice policy, planning, and evaluation, with particular expertise in juvenile justice and delinquency, crime and delinquency prevention, and research methods and quantitative analysis. His research has significantly contributed to understanding the effectiveness of various criminal justice interventions, particularly regarding juvenile curfews, which he has found to have limited impact on reducing crime. He has taught over 30 different courses at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, with a focus on research methods and quantitative analysis.

Dr. Myers' recent scholarly work demonstrates a strong focus on evidence-based practices in criminal justice, particularly in juvenile probation, drug courts, and police practices. His research often employs rigorous evaluation methods to assess the impact of criminal justice programs and policies. A notable trend in his work is the examination of contagion effects in policing and the evaluation of specialty courts, reflecting his commitment to improving evidence-based practices across the criminal justice system.

• 1st Vice President of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
• Past-President of the Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Subject matter expert for the Crime & Justice Research Alliance
• Certified reviewer for Crimesolutions.gov and the OJJDP Model Programs Guide
• Editor of Routledge Studies in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
• Editor and columnist for EBP Quarterly

Dr. Myers has secured significant research funding, including a $788,241 grant from the National Institute of Justice for evaluating the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative in New Haven (2025-2029). He has served as Principal Investigator or Co-PI on numerous research contracts with the U.S. Probation Office, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and other agencies. His work often involves researcher-practitioner partnerships to enhance evidence-based probation services and evaluate justice programs.

Dr. Myers is frequently cited in national media for his expertise on juvenile justice issues, particularly regarding the ineffectiveness of juvenile curfews. He has contributed to policy discussions through his research being used to support juvenile justice reform bills, such as Maryland SB 165.