Heith Copes

Heith Copes is a Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), holding positions since 2001. He serves as Director of the CJ Honors Program and Co-Editor of Deviant Behavior. His academic journey includes a PhD in Sociology from the University of Tennessee (2001), and他曾 been a visiting scholar at institutions worldwide, including the Max Planck Institute and universities in Europe. Copes specializes in narrative criminology, qualitative research methods, and visual criminology, with a focus on drug use and crime. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and received prestigious awards for scholarship and teaching. His research explores topics like methamphetamine use, psychedelic therapy, and symbolic boundaries in drug cultures.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology, University of Tennessee, 2001
• MA in Sociology, University of Tennessee, 1998
• BS in Sociology and Psychology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1993

Awards & Honors:

• Outstanding Educator Award, Southern Criminal Justice Association
• Ireland Award for Scholarly Distinction, UAB

Grants: Secured an NSF grant for an REU Site focusing on crime studies (2012). Active in teaching and mentoring, overseeing courses like Criminology and Honors Research, and advising doctoral committees.

Research Focus: Explores how narratives and visual methods shape understandings of crime, drug use, and identity. Recent work examines microdosing, methamphetamine use patterns, and cultural symbolism in drug practices.