Tara D. Warner

Tara D. Warner is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Criminal Justice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Bowling Green State University. Her research focuses on victimology, life course sociology, and health, particularly examining the consequences of youth violent victimization, community contexts of disadvantage, and firearm ownership attitudes. She teaches courses on victimization, juvenile delinquency, and research methods.

Dr. Warner’s work bridges criminology and public health, addressing topics like firearm storage practices, adverse childhood experiences, and the intersection of socioeconomic factors with risk behaviors. Her research has been published in top journals such as American Sociological Review and Journal of Health and Social Behavior. She actively participates in scholarly networks and serves on multiple graduate thesis committees.

Key areas of focus include:

• Firearm ownership motivations and safety practices
• Adolescent development and victimization impacts
• Community-level influences on health and risk-taking behaviors

Her recent articles emphasize sociocultural threats, economic precarity, and policy implications for public safety.