Sociology

Teaching

• SOC 241 - Introduction to Crime & Justice
• SOC 349 - Serial Homicide
• 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

PUBLICATIONS

Books

• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins. 2021.  Drugs and Drug Policy: The Control of Consciousness Alteration (Third Edition).  Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA. 
• 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

• Scott Akins and Michelle Inderbitzin. 2024.  “Drugs” in Investigating Social Problem (4th Edition). Javier Trevino, Ed.  Sage Publishing. Forthcoming.

• Burkhardt, Brett, Mark Edwards, Scott Akins and Christopher T. Stout. 2023.  Understanding Public Preferences for Policing Homeless Individuals in the United States: Results from a National Survey. Deviant Behavior 44:1462-1479. DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2023.2209692

• Burkhardt, Brett and Scott Akins, 2022.  “How Should Police Respond to Homelessness? Results from a Survey in Portland, Oregon.”  Criminal Justice Studies.  35: 274-294, DOI: 10.1080/1478601X.2022.2089667.

• Akins, Scott and Clayton Mosher.  2020.  “Oregon Just Decriminalized All Drugs-Here's Why Voters Passed This Groundbreaking Reform.”  The Conversation.
  • Reprinted: Akins, Scott and Clayton Mosher.  2020.  “Oregon Just Decriminalized All Drugs-Here's Why Voters Passed This Groundbreaking Reform." U.S. News and World Report. December 10, 2020.
• Mosher, Clayton and Scott Akins.  2020. “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.  2019.  “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.
• Burkhardt, Brett, Scott Akins, Jon Sassaman, Scott Jackson, Ken Elwer, Charles Lanfear*, Mariana Amorim* and Katelyn Stevens*.  2017. “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, 61(5):508-525.
• Akins, Scott, 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 27(1):1-18.
• Akins, Scott, 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.
• 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.

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