Faculty Profile for Dr. Brian L Withrow

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Dr. Brian L. Withrow is a Professor in Texas State University’s School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. He joined the Texas State faculty in 2009. From 1999 – 2009, Brian was an Associate Professor and Director of the Forensic Sciences Program at Wichita State University. From 1993 to 1999, Dr. Withrow managed a police leadership development program at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville Texas. From 1981 to 1993, Brian worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety as a State Trooper, Training Officer, Inspector and Bureau Manager.
Brian earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1981, his Masters of Public Administration from Southwest Texas State University in 1993, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University in 1999.
Dr. Withrow is one of the nation’s leading experts on the racial profiling controversy. He has authored three books and numerous articles and reports on this controversy. He is regularly asked to provide technical and litigation assistance on racial profiling issues to police departments throughout the nation. Dr. Withrow’s research methods textbook (Research Methods in Crime and Justice, Second Edition (2016), Routledge Publishing) is used extensively throughout the United States and in other countries. In 2018, he coauthored a popular textbook on ethics (Police Ethics: The Corruption of Noble Cause, Fourth Edition (2018), Routledge Publishing) with Michael A. Caldero and Jeffrey C. Dailey.

Teaching Interests

Research Methods, Statistics, Policing Practices, Administration

Research Interests

Police officer decision making, Racial profiling