Katy Hudson

Katy Hudson is a Teaching Professor and Director of the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (BACJ) program in the Department of Criminal Justice at the College of Public Service, University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). With over 20 years of combined academic and practitioner experience in criminal justice, her expertise centers on corrections systems and professional practices.

Education:

• A.A.S. in Criminal Justice, Pueblo Community College
• B.S. in Criminology/Sociology, Colorado State University-Pueblo
• M.C.J.A. (Master of Criminal Justice Administration), 2010
• Ph.D. in Education Leadership, Research, and Policy, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 2017

Research Focus: Dr. Hudson specializes in corrections management, particularly offender and facility operations, alongside use-of-force dynamics in criminal justice contexts. Her work bridges academic theory and operational practice through research on restrictive housing reform, body-worn camera implementation, and cognitive-based programming for offender rehabilitation and reentry. She has conducted field research at major U.S. correctional facilities including San Quentin, Pelican Bay, and Eastern State Penitentiary.

Professional Background: Prior to academia, Dr. Hudson served 15 years with the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC), rising from Corrections Officer 1 to Lieutenant. Her operational roles spanned shift command, security specialist, facility training coordination, and academy instruction across all security levels with both male and female populations.

Awards & Grants: No scientific awards or grant information is documented in available sources.

Academic Leadership: As BACJ Director, she oversees curriculum development and program administration for the undergraduate criminal justice degree, integrating her practitioner experience into student training for law enforcement and corrections careers.