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Elmer Polk

Elmer Polk

Clinical Professor of Criminology and Sociology
 
972-883-2983
GR 2.208
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Professional Preparation

Ph.D. - Criminal Justice
Sam Houston State University - 1993
M.S. - Criminal Justice
Rollins College - 1979
B.A. - Criminal Justice
University of South Florida - 1976

Publications

Online Criminology and Criminal Justice Degree Programs in the United States: An Emerging Model Provides assessment and trends of current program offerings in the U.S. in a national sample. Pending submission to the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. forthcoming - Publication
Polk, O. E. (2009) Instructors Manual. Testbank and Power Points for Community-Based Corrections, 8th ed. by Alarid, L., Cromwell, P., & del Carmen, R. Cengage Learning. Belmont, CA. 1-286, 309 Power Points. 2009 - Publication
Rodriquez, R. lll & Polk, O.E. (2008). Geographic policing: A contemporary approach to spatial accountability in a North Texas police department. Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, Spring 5 (1). 2008 - Publication
Hamblett, S., del Carmen, A., & Polk, O.E. (2008). Perspectives on the death penalty: Ditferences in knowledge levels and beliefs of CRCJ and non-CRCJ majors. Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice), Fall 5 (2). 2008 - Publication
Myers, K., del Carmen, A., & Polk, O.E. (2007). Funded federal grant proposals in law enforcement: An analysis of commonalities and jurisdictional issues. The Law Enforcement Executive Forum, 7(5). July. 21-43. 2007 - Publication
Sandifer, L., Polk, O.E., & del Camien, A (2007). Police use of force: Does gender make a difference. The Law Enforcement Executive Forum, 7(6) September. 155-167. 2007 - Publication
Bayliss, C.lill. & Polk, O.E. (2005). Attorneys' self-reported perspectives and criteria for requesting competency evaluations in criminal defense cases. Criminal Justice Review, 30 (3), December. 312-324. 2005 - Publication
Polk, O.E. & MacKenna, D.W. (2005). Dilemmas of the new millennium: Policing in the 21st century. ACJS Today, XXX (3) Sept/Oct 1-9. 2005 - Publication

Appointments

Clinical Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [2009–Present]
EPPS
Visiting Lecturer
The University of North Texas [2008–2009]
Assistant Professor
Kennesaw State University [2007–2008]
Associate Professor
University of Texas at Arlington [2004–2007]
Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Ariington [1998–2004]
Associate Professor
Coppin State College, Baltimore, Maryland [1993–1997]
Research Associate
Sam Houston State University [1991–1993]
Doctoral Fellow
Sam Houston State University [1988–1991]
Community Affairs (VIP) Coordinator
Bexar County (San Antonio) Juvenile Probation Department [1986–1988]
Juvenile Detention Center Supervisor
Bexar County (San Antonio) Juvenile Probation Department [1985–1986]

Projects

Women in Law Enforcement Careers; The Glass Ceiling Paradox.
1999–1999 Panel Presentation, 1999 Annual Meeting, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
An Assessment of Juvenile Justice and Correctional Training Needs in Maryland: A Statewide Study
1997–1997 Panel Presentation, 1997 Annual Meeting, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
Higher Education as a Factor in Promotion and Assignment for Texas Law Enforcement Officers
1998–1998 Paper Presentation, 1998 Annual Meeting, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
Assessing Affirmative Action Programs as an lndcator of Anomic Conditions in Law Enforcement Employment
1995–1995 Panel Presentation, 1995 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology
Emerging Trends in Criminal Justice: How Academia is Meeting the Needs of Criminal Justice Practitioners
1999–1999 Panel Presentation, 1999 Tarrant County, TX Criminal Justice Summit

Additional Information

Teaching
  • 2009, December. Polk, O.E., Wyman, S., & Wilkins, B. Final Report & Evaluation and Data Files: Project Safe Neighborhoods & Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative for the Northern District of Texas. Submitted to the Department of Justice and the North Texas Crime Commission.  639 pp.
  • 2009. Received service award from The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas and the North Texas Crime Commission for outstanding service, leadership, and dedication while participating in the Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods Anti-Gang Initiative.
  • 2009. Polk, O. E. Instructor’s Manual. Testbank and Power Points for Community-Based Corrections, 8th ed. by Alarid, L., Cromwell, P., & del Carmen, R. Cengage Learning. Belmont, CA. 1-286, 309 Power Points.
  • 2008. October. Reviewed and critiqued testbank for Siegel and Sienna's new introduction to Criminal Justice textbook for Cengage Publishing.
  • 2008. September. Developed and presented a three hour training module on Juvenile Justice rn Texas to a visiting contingent of thirty-four dignitaries from Thailand's Department of Ministry and other leading criminal justice professionals.
  • 2008. May. Reviewed and critiqued book entitled, Corrections Today, a first edition by unknown author for Wadsworth Publishers.
  • 2008. February. Reviewed and critiqued book enntled, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 11"* ed., by Larry Siegel & Joseph Senna for Wadsworth Publishers.
  • 2007. October. Completed the seventeen—moduIe, social and behavioral science, research certiHcaIion course on Human Research Curriculum by the Collaborative Institutional Training lnitiative (CIT|).
  • 2007. September. Evaluation ot Six-City Gang Initiatives, Crime Interventions in the Northem District of Texas tor grant extension period oi October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007 on grant number 2006—PG—BX0094. Submitted to the U.S. Department oi Justice and the North Texas Crime Commission. Lead author ot project team including Shemian Wyman and Bob Wilkins. 405 pp.
  • 2006. August Reviewed and critiqued book manuscript entitled, The Blue Guide: Written Communication for Law Enforcement by Elizabeth Brockman for Pierson, Allyn, and Bacon Publishing.
  • 2005. October. "A Review and Evaluation ot Project Sate Neighborhoods Initiatives in the Northem District ot Texas — A Three-Year Study" submitted to the U. S. Department ot Justice on Grant # 2002GP—CX-0226. Lead author of project team includng Sherman Wyman and Bob Wilkins.
  • 2004. July. Reviewed and critiqued rewrite oi book manuscript entitled, Juvenile Justice: Process and Law for Wadsworth Publishing.
  • 2004. May. Reviewed and critiqued book manuscript entitled, Juvenile Justice: Process and Law tor Wadsworth Publishing.
  • 2002- Present External reviewer for The Journal of Criminal Justice Education.
  • 1999 — 2006. External reviewer for The International Journal of Police Science Management
  • 1996. The Contemporary Journal of Cnminal Justice 11(3), August 1996, coedited special edition entitled "Police Training and Violence", managing editor, George Rush.
  • 1995, March. Reviewed and critiqued book manuscript entitled Corrections in America tor West Publishing.
  • 1995-1997 Served as reviewer tor West Educational Publishing Corporation, reviewing and editing correctional textbooks; served as external reviewer tor Police Studies and the Journal of Criminal Justice Education.
  • 1987. Bexar County Juvenile Probation Policy and Procedure Manual with Keith Fortney and committee. Written in cooperation with the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and the American Correctional Association. Distributed by the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department, San Antonio, Texas.

 

Developed and obtained Curriculum Committee approval for nine new courses during 1994-2010: 
  • The Juvenile Justice System
  • Juvenile Justice & Juvenile Corrections (graduate)
  • Statistics for Criminal Justice Research
  • Legal Liabilities of Criminal Justice Professionals 
  • Survey of American Policing
  • Advanced Legal and Technical Writing
  • Institutional Corrections Online course
  • Organizational Theory& Management Thought (graduate)
  • Foundations of Criminal Justice Online
  Undergraduate Courses Taught 
  • Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • Community Corrections 
  • Theoretical Criminology
  • Institutional Corrections 
  • Conference Courses
  • Statistics for CJ Research
  • Advanced Legal and Technical Writing
  • Criminal Justice Research 
  • Legal Liabilities of Criminal Justice Professionals
  • Criminal Justice Internship I 
  • Criminal Justice Internship II
  • Cooperative Field Placement I
  • Cooperative Field Placement II
  • Cooperative Field Placement III
  • Cooperative Field Placement IV
  • Juvenile Justice Systems
  • Victimology Corrections
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Foundations of Criminal Justice
  • Police in America
  • Drugs in America
  • Social Control and Criminal Sanctions
  • Advanced Criminal Justice
  • Advanced Criminology
  • Juvenile Delinquency
  Graduate Courses Taught
  • Thesis I & II
  • CRCJ Seminar
  • Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Corrections
  • Criminal Justice Research & Statistics
  • Rights of the Incarcerated
  • Advanced Criminology
  • Problems in the Exercise of Institutional Authority
  • Field Training/Practicum
  • Conference Courses
  • Drugs in America
  • Courts
SERVICE (UNNERSITY/ COLLEGE/ DEPARTMENT)

Current
Active Memberships & Service:

  1. American Correctional Association (since 2/10/85)
  2. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (since 10/11/93)
  3. Southwest Association of Criminal Justice (since 3/10/99)
  4. American Criminological Society 9/01/94-12/30/97) (since 11/1/07)
  5. Member of the Greater Dallas Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force (2002present)
  6. Member of the greater Dallas Anti-Gang Initiative Proposal Selection Committee (Summer 2006 - present)
  7. QM online course reviewer


At Kennesaw State University

  1. Served as a member of the departments Research and Grantsmanship Committee
  2. Served on the Masters Curriculum and Degree Program Development Committee for the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
  3. Chaired the Committee on the Homeland Security Specialty Development Committee for the new Ph.D. in International Relations for the College of Humanities and Social Services. Degree program was awarded to KSU.
  4. Served on the Research Cumculum Development Committee tor the new Ph.D. in lntemationsal Relations for the College of Humanities and Social Services.


At UTA

  1. Graduate Advisor, Criminology and Criminal Justice Department (1998-2000, Fall 2006 - Summer 2007)
  2. UTA Faculty Senate representative from CRCJ (2004 -2006)
  3. UTA - University Parking Committee (2005 - 2006)
  4. Area High School Speaker on criminology & criminal justice careers and/or majors (1998, 2006)
  5. Member ofthe Hozhooji Walk Consortium, with Southwest Adventist University, A Service Leaming, Field Education Project to provide continuing education to the Navajo Nation in Ganado, New Mexico (2003-2007)
  6. Northeastern Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (11/1/93-12/96) State representative for  Maryland, 1995.
  7. College of Liberal Arts Tenure 8 Promotion Committee (Fall 2006 - Spring 2007)
  8. College of Liberal Arts Faculty Teaching Awards Committee 2006-07
  9. CRCJ Tenure & Promotion Review Committee (Fall 2005 - Spring 2007)
  10. CRCJ Faculty Search Committees 1998-99, 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 20032004, Chair 2004-2005, Chair 2005-2006, 2006-2007
  11. Chair, CRCJ Committee on Graduate Studies (Fall 2000 - Fall 2006)
  12. CRCJ Unit Effectiveness Plan Committee (1999-2007)
  13. Sponsor of the CRCJ Student Organization & East Texas Prison Tour (2000-2006)
  14. Curiculum Committee, College of Liberal Arts (1998-2003)
  15. Chair, CRCJ Curriculum Committee (1998-2003)
  16. Library Resources Committee, Criminology and Criminal Justice Program (1998-2004)
  17. Retention and Recruitment Committee, Chair, CRCJ Program (19982006)
  18. Retention and Recruitment Committee, College of Liberal Arts (1998-2002)
  19. CRCJ Adjunct Faculty Review Committee (1999-2004)
  20. McNair Mentor (Summer 2001)
  21. ACJS Affirmative Action Committee (2000-2001)


At Coppin State

  1. Interim Chair, Department of Criminal Justice, Coppin State College, Fall 1994 - Spring 1996.
  2. University Curriculum Committee (Fall 1993-Fall 1997).
  3. University Graduate Council (Fall 1994 - Fall 1997).
  4. College of Arts and Sciences Personnel Committee (1994-1997).
  5. Criminal Justice Undergraduate Advisor (Fall 1993Fall 1997).
  6. Chair, Department of Criminal Justice Library Resources Committee (Fall 1993-Fall 1997).
  7. Presidents Committee on Police Training (Summer 1995-Fall 1997).
  8. McNair Mentor {Fall 1995-Fall 1997).
  9. Maryland Correctional Association (7/94-12/97)
  10. Northeastern Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (11/1/93-12/98) State representative for Maryland, 1995.


Past CJ Field Memberships and Associations:

  1. American Probation and Parole Association (1993-1996)
  2. Texas Probation Association (1984-89)
  3. Officer of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (198689)
  4. Board of Directors, St Mary's Drop-in Center, San Antonio (1988-89)
  5. Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency (197884)
  6. Member of the Tallahassee Community Correctional Center's Citizen Advisory Committee (1981)
  7. Member of the Fl Dept. of Corrections Committee on Standards and Procedures for ACA accreditation (1983-84)
  8. Member of the Bexar County, Texas Juvenile Probation Departrrrent's Committee on standards and procedures for ACA accreditation (1988-89)
  9. American Criminological Society (9/01/94-12/30/97;11/1/07-08)
  10. Southern Criminal Justice Association (9/30/07-9/30/08))
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
  • Thirty-six years total experience in criminology & criminal justice related work.
  • Seven years working with adult probation and parole offenders; six years with juveniles, four years in criminal justice field research, and fifteen years as a Lecturer! Assistant / Associate Professor of Criminal Justice.
  • Seven and one-half years supervisory experience; Four and one-half years administrative experience.
  • Wide variety of experience in, probation, parole, minimum security adult facilities, secure juvenile detention, juvenile probation and law enforcement research.
  • Experience in writing and administering grants.

Funding

A three year gang violence reduction program in the Ft. Worth - Dallas Metroplex
$38,000 - Department of Justice BJA funding through the North Texas U.S. Atfomeys Office and the Greater Dallas Crime Commission [2008–2009]
Develop and offer online live CRCJ courses consisting of three graduate and two undergraduate elective courses
$20,000 - UTA Distance Leaming Center [2007–2007]
Hozohooji Walk: Prospectus for a Shared Value Partnership in Service Leaming and Field Education Among the Navajo People
$299,260 - Multi-authored grant [2006–2006]
2006 Anti-Gang Initiative for Dallas
$119,993 - Department of Justice BJA funding through the North Texas Crime Commission [2006–2008]
Texas Justice information Exchange Model (TJIEM) Project
$150,000 - Texas Conference of Urban Counties via the Texas integrated Justice lnfomiation Systems Advisory Committee [2006–2018]