Tomislav Kovandzic

Ph.D. - Criminology and Criminal Justice
Florida State University - 1999

M.S. - Criminology and Criminal Justice
Florida State University - 1995

B.A. - Criminology and Criminal Justice
Florida State University - 1993

2009. Kovandzic, Tomislav V., Lynne M. Vieraitis, and Denise P. Boots. Does the Death Penalty Save Lives? New Evidence from State Panel Data, 1977 t2006. Criminology and Public Policy, 8:801-841. 2009 - Publication

Worrall, John L., and Tomislav V. Kovandzic. Police Levels and Crime Rates: A Complete Instrumental Variables Approach. Article forthcoming, Social Science Research. 2009 - Publication

2009. Kleck, Gary, and Tomislav V. Kovandzic. City-Level Characteristics and Individual Handgun Ownership: Effects of Collective Security and Homicide. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 25 (2009) 45-66. 2009 - Publication

2009. Copes, Heith J., Tomislav V. Kovandzic, Mitchell Miller, and Luke Williamson. The Lost Cause? Examining the Southern Culture of Violence Through Defensive Gun Use. Crime and Delinquency. 2009 - Publication

2008. Vieraitis, Lynne M., Tomislav V. Kovandzic, and Sarah Britto. Women's Status and Risk of Homicide Victimization: An Analysis with Data Disaggregated by Victim-Offender Relationship. Homicide Studies 12:163-176.. 2008 - Publication

2008. Worrall, John L., and Tomislav V. Kovandzic. Is Policing for Profit? Answers from Asset Forfeiture. Criminology and Public Policy 23:151-178. 2008 - Publication

2007. Vieraitis, Lynne M., Sarah Britto, and Tomislav V. Kovandzic. The Impact of Women's Status and Gender Inequality on FemaleHomicide Victimization Rates: Evidence from Large U.S. Counties. Feminist Criminology 2:1-17. 2007 - Publication

2007. Worrall, John L., and Tomislav V. Kovandzic. COPS Grants and Crime Revisited. Criminology 45:157-190. 2007 - Publication

Associate Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [2007–Present]

Associate Professor
University of Alabama at Birmingham [2005–2007]

Assistant Professor
University of Alabama at Birmingham [1998–2005]

Research Assistant
Florida State University [1997–1998]

Florida's Imprisonment Binge: Has it Reduced Crime?

2005–2005 (with Lynne Vieraitis) Florida's Imprisonment Binge: Has it Reduced Crime? Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Toronto, Canada, November, 2005.

The Impact of Income Inequality on Race-Specific Homicide Rates: 1947-2001

2003–2003 (with Lynne Vieraitis) The Impact of Income Inequality on Race-Specific Homicide Rates: 1947-2001. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Denver, Colorado, November, 2003.

Crime, Collective Security and Gun Ownership: A Multi-Level Application of the General Social Surveys

2004–2004 (with Gary Kleck) Crime, Collective Security and Gun Ownership: A Multi-Level Application of the General Social Surveys. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Nashville, Tennessee, November, 2004.

The Effect of Gun Levels on Violence Rates Depends on Whhas Them

2003–2003 (with Gary Kleck) The Effect of Gun Levels on Violence Rates Depends on Whhas Them. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Denver, Colorado, November, 2003.

COPS Grants and Crime Revisited

2005–2005 (with John L. Worrall) COPS Grants and Crime Revisited.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Toronto, Canada, November, 2005.

Professional Memberships

• American Society of Criminology
• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

Professional activities and committees

• Editorial Board, Police Quarterly, 2007 -present
• Editorial Board, Justice Quarterly, beginning 2011
• Manuscript Reviewer for Criminology, Criminology and Public Policy, Justice Quarterly, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Social Problems, Homicide Studies, American Journal of Criminal Justice, Police
• Quarterly, Contemporary Economic Policy, Security Journal, Western Criminology Review, Criminal Justice Policy Reviewer
• Student Affairs Committee, American Society of Criminology, 2008

Departmental activities and committees

• Criminology Program Development Committee, 2007-2008
• Comprehensive Grading Committee, 2008 to current

Study: Recent Spikes in Homicide Rates Don't Tell Whole Story

Recent spikes in homicide rates across the nation have been attributed to causes ranging from civil unrest to the opioid epidemic, but new UT Dallas research published in the journal Homicide Studies found a much simpler explanation: The increases follow predictable fluctuations in rates over the past 55 years.

“If you look at the trends over time, you can often see ups and downs of that magnitude,” said Dr. Andrew Wheeler, assistant professor of criminology in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.

The fact that homicide rates in most cities remain relatively stable, but with minor fluctuations from year-to-year suggests that long-term factors such as segregation and/or concentrated poverty play a more important role in the increases, said Dr. Tomislav V. Kovandzic, associate professor of criminology and co-author of the study.

Research Partner for Project Safe Neighborhoods: Northern District of Alabama

$150,000 - Bureau of Justice Assistance [2002–2002]