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Department of Criminal Justice Sciences

Dr. Ralph Weisheit

Distinguished Professor
Criminal Justice Sciences
Office
SCH Schroeder Hall 430
Office Phone
(309) 438-3849office
phone
Email
raweish@ilstu.eduemail
Website
https://about.illinoisstate.edu/raw... website
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Biography

Dr. Ralph A. Weisheit is a Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at Illinois State University. He is the author of eight books, including Methamphetamine: Its History, Pharmacology, and Treatment (co-authored with William L. White), and Domestic Marijuana: A Neglected Industry. In addition to his research on illicit drugs, Dr. Weisheit has conducted extensive research on rural crime and rural justice. He has published more than 40 journal articles, and numerous book chapters and solicited essays.

Current Courses

216.001Criminal Justice Ethics

102.002Individuals, Society, And Justice

291.015Undergraduate Teaching Experience In Criminal Justice Sciences

Teaching Interests & Areas

I very much enjoy teaching our freshman-level course on general justice because it covers a wide-ranging area beyond traditional criminal justice. It includes such topics as contemporary slavery, contemporary genocide, the use of child soldiers, and the link between justice and the environment -- to name only a few. I also very much enjoy teaching an upper-level course on alcohol, drugs and crime.

Research Interests & Areas

I have conducted research in a number of areas, however, there are two primary areas of research interest:
(1) the link between substance abuse and crime
(2) rural crime and justice.

Ph D Sociology

Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

MA Criminology

Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

BA Forensic Studies

Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana

Distinguished Professor

Illinois State University
1998

Academy Fellow

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
1994

Outstanding University Researcher

Illinois State University
1989

Outstanding College Researcher

CAST
1987

Research Initiative Award

Illinois State University
1987

Book Review

Weisheit, R. Review of "The Methamphetamine Industry in America.". Criminal Law and Justice Books (2015)
Weisheit, R. Meth Mania: A History of Methamphetamine. Leah E. Daigle (EDs). Criminal Justice Review 39.3 (2014): 340-342.
Weisheit, R. Locating Crime in Context and Place: Perspectives on Regional, Rural and Remote Australia. Rural Society/Taylor & Francis

Book, Authored

Weisheit, R., & Morn, F. Pursuing Justice: Traditional and Contemporary Issues in Our Communities and the World. Anderson Publishing (2014): 248.

Book, Chapter

Weisheit, R., & Lally, W. The challenges of policing alcohol and drug-related crime.. A. Harkness (EDs), Rural crime prevention: Theory, tactics, techniques.. Routledge (2020)
Weisheit, R., & Shukla, R. Meth (Mis)Understandings. Handbook of Deviance. Routledge (2017)
Barcaly, E., Weisheit, R., & Donnermeyer, J. Rural and Agricultural Crime. Anne Dellinger (EDs), The Oxford Handbook in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Oxford University Press (2015): 1-15.
Weisheit, R., & Morn, F. Individual Strategies for Achieving Justice. R. Scott Frey (EDs), Readings in Social Justice, 2nd Edition. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company (2014): 293-312.
Weisheit, R. Researching Drug Crime Using Qualitative Methods. Mitch Miller and Heath Copes (EDs), Handbook of Qualitative Criminology. Routledge (2014): 191-203.

Journal Article

Wells, L., & Weisheit, R. A Comparison of Criminological and Public Health Models: Geographic and Social Diversity Associated with Methamphetamine Laboratory Seizures. Wesley Jennings (EDs). The American Joural of Criminal Justice 39.1 (2014): 1-21.
Belt, A., Weisheit, R., Stalcup, A., & Galloway, G. Treating Incarcerated Juvenile Methamphetamine Abusers. Hanna Brycz (EDs). Psychology Research 3.8 (2013): 463-474.
Weisheit, R., & Wells, L. Explaining Crime in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Communities. Joseph Donnermeyer (EDs). The International Journal of Rural Criminology 1.2 (2012): 153-183.
Wells, L., & Weisheit, R. Crime and Place: Proximity and the Location of Methamphetamine Laboratories. Journal of Drug Issues 42.2 (2012): 178-196.
Weisheit, R. Rural Crime from a Global Perspective. Joseph Donnermeyer (EDs). The International Journal of Rural Criminology

Presentations

Methamphetamine, Opioids & Fentanyl in rural Illinois: An ethnographic exploration of current and emerging issues.. University Research Symposium. Illinois State University. (2024)
Female White Supremacists and the Internet as a Recruitment Tool. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. (2007)
Explaining Crime in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Communities.. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology. American Society of Criminology.
Treating Adolescent Methamphetamine Users: An Innovative and Intensive Program.. Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Grants & Contracts

Methamphetamine, Opioids & Fentanyl in rural Illinois: An ethnographic exploration of current and emerging issues.. Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship. Illinois State University. (2023)
Federal Methamphetamine Initiative. Commuity Oriented Policing Program. Federal. (2009)