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Ralph Weisheit, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at Illinois State University

 He is the author of nine books, including Methamphetamine: Its History, Pharmacology, and Treatment (co-authored with William L. White), and Domestic Marijuana: A Neglected Industry. He has conducted extensive research on rural crime and justice and has published more than 45 journal articles, numerous book chapters and solicited essays. He has appeared in the Frontline documentary film series and on the news program 60 Minutes. His work has been reported in the Atlantic Monthly, U.S. News & World Report, The Washington Post, and U.S.A. Today. In 2019 he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rural Criminology Division of the American Society of Criminology.

His most recent book, co-edited with Jessica Peterson and Artur Pytlarz, is Research Methods for Rural Criminologists. NY: Routledge. 2022.

Some of his most recent awards:

2019: Became the namesake and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award by the Rural Criminology Division of the American Society of Criminology 

1998: Distinguished Professor. Title given by Illinois State University in recognition of scholarly contributions.