Joshua Chanin

Dr. Joshua Chanin is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Affairs, part of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at San Diego State University (SDSU). His research focuses on the intersection of law, criminal justice, and governance, with a particular emphasis on policing reform, constitutional law, and equity in public administration. Trained as a lawyer and holding a PhD in public administration, his work examines how legal values like due process and transparency shape public programs, especially federal efforts to address systemic police misconduct through the DOJ’s 'pattern or practice' initiative. He has published extensively on topics such as racial disparities in policing, police transparency, and the sustainability of reform mandates.

His scholarly interests include analyzing the implementation of federal policing reforms, the disparate impacts of traffic stops, and the role of gender in bureaucratic representation. Recent work explores policing during the pandemic, the spatial heterogeneity of enforcement practices, and the cultural dynamics of police departments. He has contributed to debates around 'complex colorblindness' in policing and the ethical implications of algorithmic bias in law enforcement data.

Dr. Chanin’s research has been featured in journals such as Social Problems, Police Quarterly, and Criminal Justice Policy Review. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Public Administration and Criminology/Criminal Justice at SDSU, emphasizing practical applications of administrative theory and legal frameworks.

Notably, he has conducted fieldwork on the DOJ’s 'pattern or practice' investigations, evaluating negotiation processes and post-reform sustainability. His current project examines police transparency mechanisms, aiming to enhance accountability and public trust in law enforcement.