Kent R. Kerley
Professor and Chair
(205) 975-5701
UBOB 210
Research Interests: Corrections, religiosity, and drug careers
Office Hours: By appointment
Education:- B.A., East Tennessee State University, Criminal Justice
- M.S., University of Tennessee, Sociology (Criminology concentration)
- Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Sociology (Criminology concentration)
I was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at a time when President Nixon was about to resign from office and the nuclear arms race was about to begin. I was rooted firmly in the working class, and my parents worked multiple jobs and sacrificed mightily so that I could be the first four-year college graduate in our family. One of my father’s jobs was police officer, and I think that is the origin of my professional interest in criminal justice. I am married, have two kids, and eight grandkids that we call our Great Eight. Our journey after finishing graduate degrees at the University of Tennessee has included working at universities in Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. We are thrilled to be back at UAB. Go Blazers!
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Recent Courses
- White-Collar and Corporate Crime
- Research Methods
- Introduction to Corrections
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Select Publications
- 2019. Kerley, Kent R., Megan Webb, and O. Hayden Griffin III. “Examining the Nexus between Prescription Opioid and Heroin Abuse.” Deviant Behavior 40:1132-1142. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01639625.2018.1461787?needAccess=true
- 2019. Kerley, Kent R., Rashaan DeShay, and Heith Copes. “Harm Reduction Strategies and Disinhibitors among Women Who Use Heroin.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 63:1289-1305. https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/PPqhdV88Y4VaDDECCnzG/full
- 2018. Kerley, Kent R. (Editor). Finding Freedom in Confinement: The Role of Religion in Prison Life. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger. http://publisher.abc-clio.com/9781440850325/
- 2018. Kerley, Kent R. (Editor). Religion and Crime: Theory, Research, and Practice. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/856
- 2017. Kerley, Kent R. (Editor). The Encyclopedia of Corrections. Beverly Hills, CA: Wiley-Blackwell. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118845420.html
- 2016. Copes, Heith, Lindsay Leban, Kent R. Kerley, and Jessica R. Deitzer. “Identities, Boundaries, and Accounts of Women Methamphetamine Users.” Justice Quarterly 33:134-158. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07418825.2014.897365
- 2015. Kerley, Kent R., Heith Copes, and O. Hayden Griffin III. “Middle-Class Motives for Non-Medical Prescription Stimulant Use among College Students.” Deviant Behavior 36:589-603. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01639625.2014.951573?journalCode=udbh20
- 2015. Kerley, Kent R. (Editor). Current Studies in the Sociology of Religion. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. http://books.mdpi.com/pdfview/book/111
- 2014. Kerley, Kent R. (Monograph Author). Religious Faith in Correctional Contexts. Boulder, CO: First Forum Press/Lynne Rienner Publishers. https://www.rienner.com/title/Religious_Faith_in_Correctional_Contexts
- 2014. Kerley, Kent R., Lindsay Leban, Heith Copes, Christine Agnone, and Leah Taylor. “Methamphetamine Using Careers of White and Black Women.” Deviant Behavior 35:477-495. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01639625.2013.859046
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Academic Distinctions & Professional Memberships
Dr. Kerley currently serves as Vice President of the Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA) and served as SCJA Treasurer from 2014 to 2017.