Sociology

Associate Professor Sociology Program School of Public Policy 341 Bexell Hall Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-3703 Phone: 541-737-5370 Fax: 541-737-2289 sakins@oregonstate.edu

Teaching

• SOC 241 - Introduction to Crime & Justice
• SOC 315 - Methods 1: Research Design
• SOC 441/541 - Criminology & Penology
• SOC 442/542 - Sociology of Drug Use & Abuse
• PPOL 521 - Understanding Social Research

Research Interests

• Criminology and Deviance
• Drug Use, Abuse and Policy
• Research Methods & Statistics

Curriculum Vitae

Brief Vita

Education

• Ph.D. - Sociology, Washington State University, 2002
• M.A. - Sociology, Washington State University, 1999
• B.S. - Criminal Justice, Northern Arizona University, 1994

Current Projects

• The Control of Consciousness Alteration--Substance Use, Abuse and Policy
• Race/Ethnic Differences in Substance Use and Problems
• Racial Segregation, Concentrated Disadvantage and Crime
• Immigration, Acculturation and Drug Use
• Recent Immigration and Violence

Recent Publications

Books

• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. 2019.  In the Weeds: Demonization, Legalization, and the Evolution of US Marijuana Policy. Temple University Press.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. 2014. Drugs and Drug Policy: The Control of Consciousness Alteration (Second Edition). Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. 2007. Drugs and Drug Policy: The Control of Consciousness Alteration. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles and Book Chapters

• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins.  Forthcoming. “Recreational Marijuana Legalization in Washington State—Outcomes, Benefits and Harms.”  In The Coming Cannabis Regulation?: Regulatory Models for Recreational Cannabis Markets, Tom Decorte, Chris Wilkins and Simon Lenton, Eds. Routledge Publishing.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins.  Forthcoming.  “Should Marijuana be Legalized?”   In Crime and Criminal Justice: Concepts and Controversies, Stacy Mallicoat, Ed. Sage Publishing.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins.  2018.  “Substance Abuse.” In Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems, Vol. 2, Pp. 43-58. Javier Trevino, Ed.  Cambridge University Press.
• Scott Akins, Brett Burkhardt, and Charles Lanfear.* 2016. “Law Enforcement Response to “Frequent Fliers”: An Examination of High-Frequency Contacts between Police and Justice-Involved Persons with Mental Illness.” Criminal Justice Policy Review (1:1-18). http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0887403414559268
• Scott Akins, Brett Burkhardt and Charles Lanfear. 2016. “Law Enforcement Response to Persons with Mental Illness: Challenges and Recommendations for Policy.” London School of Economics American Politics and Policy Blog.
• Brett Burkhardt, Scott Akins, Jon Sassaman, Scott Jackson, Ken Elwer, Charles Lanfear*, Mariana Amorim* and Katelyn Stevens*. 2015 (Advance online publication). “University Researcher and Law Enforcement Collaboration: Results and Lessons from a Study of Justice-Involved Mentally Ill Individuals in Benton County, Oregon.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 1:1-18.
• Akins, Scott and Clayton Mosher. 2015. “Drugs: Use, Consequences and Regulation.” Pp. 349-369 in Handbook on Deviance, Erich Goode, Ed. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. 2015. “Drugs and Drug Control in Canada.” Pp. 329-349 in Pan African Issues in Drugs and Drug Control: An International Perspective. Anita Kalunta-Crumpton, Ed. Ashgate Publishing.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. 2014. “From ‘Just Say No!’ to ‘Well, Maybe’ - The War on Drugs & Sensible Alternatives.” Pp. 121-144 in Criminal Justice Policy, Stacy L. Mallicoat and Christine L. Gardiner Eds. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. “Medical Marijuana.” 2014. In Science and Politics: An A to Z Guide in Issues and Controversies, Brent Steel Ed. CQ Press.
• Akins, Scott. 2013. “287(g): State and Local Enforcement of Immigration Law.” Criminology and Public Policy 12: 227-236.
• Stansfield, Richard*, Scott Akins, Rubén Rumbaut and Roger Hammer. 2013. “Assessing the effects of recent immigration on serious property crime in Austin, Texas.” Sociological Perspectives 56:647-672.
• Akins, Scott, Charles Lanfear*, Sarah Cline* and Clay Mosher. 2013. “Patterns and Correlates of Adult American Indian Substance Use.” Journal of Drug Issues 43: 497-516.
• Lanfear, Charles*, Scott Akins and Clay Mosher. 2013.“Examining the Relationship of Substance Use and Sexual Orientation.” Deviant Behavior 34: 586-597.
• Akins, Scott, Chad L. Smith and Clay Mosher. 2010. “Pathways to Adult Alcohol Abuse across Race/Ethnic Groups: An application of general strain and social learning theories.” Journal of Drug Issues 40: 321-352.
• Akins, Scott, Rubén Rumbaut and Richard Stansfield*. 2009.“Immigration, Economic Disadvantage and Homicide: An analysis of communities in Austin, Texas.” Homicide Studies 13: 307-314.
• Akins, Scott. 2009. “Racial Segregation, Economic Disadvantage and Violent Crime.” Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice 7:30-52.
• Akins, Scott, Clayton Mosher, Chad L. Smith and Jane Florence Gauthier. 2008. “The Effect of Acculturation on Patterns of Hispanic Substance Use in Washington State.” Journal of Drug Issues 38:103-118.
• Akins, Scott. 2007. “Racial Segregation and Crime.” Sociology Compass 1: 81-94.
• Akins, Scott. 2003. “Racial Segregation and Property Crime: Examining the mediating effect of police strength.” Justice Quarterly 20:675-695.
• Akins, Scott, Clayton Mosher, Thomas Rotolo and Robert Griffin. 2003. “Patterns and Correlates of Substance Use among American Indians in Washington State.” Journal of Drug Issues 33:45-74.
• Akins, Scott and Robert Griffin. 2000. “Multiple Birth Rates and Racial Type: A research note regarding r/K theory.” Deviant Behavior 21:15-22.

Policy Reports

• Scott Akins, Brett Burkhardt, Charles Lanfear, Mariana Amorim and Katelyn Stevens. 2014. Law Enforcement Response to People with Mental Illnesses in Benton County.
• Scott Akins, Brett Burkhardt, Charles Lanfear*, Katelyn Stevens* and Mariana Amorim*. 2014. OPAL White Paper: Law Enforcement Response to People with Mental Illnesses in Benton County. White Paper submitted to OSU SPP Oregon Policy Analysis Laboratory (OPAL).
• Akins, Scott, Ashley Tucker and Kathleen Veritas. 2010. A Survey Based Analysis of Services Provided by the Benton County Sherriff’s Department. Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
• Akins, Scott, Ashley Tucker and Kathleen Veritas. 2010. An Institutional Comparison Study: The Structure of Sherriff’s Offices in the United States and Suggestions for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
• Akins, Scott. 2008. Evaluation of Linn County Substance Abuse Prevention Campaign. Linn County Alcohol & Drug Treatment.
• Akins, Scott. 2003. Public Alcohol Bans: An assessment of their potential effectiveness for reducing crime and disorder. The New Zealand Police.

Peer-Reviewed Encyclopedia Articles

• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. 2008. “Fear of Crime.” In Encyclopedia of Social Problems, Vincent N. Parrillo, Ed. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.
• Akins, Scott and Jane Florence-Gauthier. 2007. “Hadacol.” In Encyclopedia of White-Collar Crime, Jurg Gerber and Eric L. Jensen, Eds. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.
• Florence-Gauthier, Jane and Scott Akins. 2007. “Kerr-McGee Corporation” In Encyclopedia of White-Collar Crime, Jurg Gerber and Eric L. Jensen, Eds. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.
• Akins, Scott. 2004. “Police Records and the Uniform Crime Reports.” In Encyclopedia of Social Measurement, Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, Ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
• Akins, Scott and Clayton Mosher. 2004. “Sources of Data on Correctional Facilities and Known Offenders.” In Encyclopedia of Social Measurement, Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, Ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Selected Media Coverage of Research

On drug policy:

• WalletHub. Should Marijuana be Legal? Experts Weigh In. July 14, 2016.

On policing and mental health:

• Corvallis Advocate. Corvallis Mental Health Arrests Increase Significantly. February 19, 2015.
• KMTR, Eugene. Study Aims to Help ID Mental Health Issues. February 16, 2015

On recent immigration, assimilation and deviance:

• Associated Press.Study Charts Latino Immigrant Drug Use. August 20, 2007
• Washington Post. U.S. Culture Boosts Hispanic Immigrants' Substance Abuse Risk. August 13, 2007
• Oregon Public Broad Casting. Study Finds Drug Use Increases With 'Acculturation.' August 13, 2007.
• The Oregonian. Study of Washington Latinos links acculturation with abuse of drugs and heavy drinking. August 14, 2007.
• Science Daily. Hispanic Drug Use Rises in US Culture. August 13, 2007.
• United Press International.Hispanic drug use rises with acculturation. August 13, 2007

Honors & Awards

• 2014 Oregon State University College of Liberal Arts Master Teacher Award
• 2006 Sociology Student Choice Award: Outstanding Mentor
• 2005 Sociology Student Choice Award: Outstanding Professor
• 2001 James F. Short Jr. Research Award