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David Myers

Professor of Criminal Justice, University of New Haven

Areas of Expertise

  • Juvenile justice
  • Delinquency
  • Criminal justice policy
  • Planning and evaluation

Key Findings

  • Public defenders disagreed with statements that juvenile offenders should be transferred to adult courts (excluding through the statutory waivers for violent crimes) more than any other group surveyed. MORE
  • Public defenders reported the highest average age that juveniles (17 years of age) should be held criminally responsible for violent crimes. MORE
  • The overall effect of transferring a juvenile to adult court and recidivism in the juvenile was insignificant. MORE
  • For violent felony recidivism, there was a significant criminogenic effect, meaning an increase of criminal activity for juveniles that were transferred to adult courts. MORE
  • More work needs to be done to bridge the gap between research and practice to promote accountability in juvenile justice systems. MORE
  • Challenges to accountability include practitioners being weary of the role science has in their personal encounters and a lack of resources required to track outcomes. MORE

Biography

David Myers, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven, is an expert in juvenile justice and delinquency, criminal justice policy, planning and evaluation.

Myers currently serves as the Director of the Criminal Justice PhD Program at the University of New Haven. He previously served as Dean’s Associate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s (IUP) School of Graduate Studies and Research, Interim Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies at IUP, Interim Executive Director of the IUP Research Institute, and Interim Director of the IUP Murtha Institute for Homeland Security. Myers is the editor of ACJS Today, Routledge Studies in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and EBP Quarterly, as well as associate editor of Criminal Justice Policy Review. He also serves as chair of the ACJS Public Policy Committee, is an active board member of the Crime & Justice Research Alliance, and is a certified reviewer for Crimesolutions.gov and the OJJDP Model Programs Guide.

He has published three books and more than 40 articles and book chapters, including articles in journals such as Criminology and Public Policy, Crime & Delinquency, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice.

Myers received his Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland and his M.S. and B.S. in Criminal Justice from Shippensburg University.