Department of Sociology

J.D., Old College, Nevada School of Law
Ph.D., Washington State University
B.A., M.A., Texas Tech University

Interests:

A. Courses and Research Areas:

Sociology of Religion and New Religious Movements
Religion and Social Control
Social Psychology and Sociology of Law
Social and Behavioral Science Evidence
Litigation Research, focusing on juries and judges
Social Movements and Collective Behavior
Terrorism Studies

B. Applied Areas:

Consult on legal cases involving religious groups and social/behavioral science evidence. Involved in consulting and training concerning terrorism and violence, especially concerning religious groups.

C. Other Activities:

Faculty member in the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. Program, Director of the Judicial Studies Program, which offers Master's and Ph.D.degrees for trial judges; and Director of the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies, a statewide research and service arm of the university.

Recent Publications:

Dahir, V. B., Richardson, J.T., Ginsburg, G. P., Gatowski, S. I., Dobbin, S. A., & Merlino, M. L. (2005). Judicial application of Daubert to Psychological syndrome and profile evidence. Psychology, Public Policy, and the Law, 11, 62-82.

Edelman, B., & Richardson, J. T. (2005). Imposed limitations on freedom of religion in China and the margin of appreciation doctrine. Journal of Church and State, 47, 243-267.

Richardson, J. T. (2004). Regulating religion: Case studies from around the globe. New York: Kluwer.

Beckford, J. A. & Richardson, J. T. (2003). Challenging religion: Essays in honour of Eileen Barker. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Edelman, B. C. & Richardson, J.T. (2003). Falun Gong and the law: Development of legal social control in China. Nova Religio, 6, 294-311.

Dobbin, S. A., Gatowski, S.I., Richardson, J.T., Ginsburg, G.P., Merlino, M.L., & Dahir, V. (2002). Applying Daubert: How well do judges understand science and scientific method? Judicature, 85, 244-247.

Dobbin, S.A., Gatowski, S.I., Ginsburg, G.P., Merlino, M.L., Dahir, V., & Richardson, J.T. (2001). Surveying difficult populations: Lessons learned from a national survey of state trial court judges. Justice System Journal, 22(3), 287-314.

Richardson, J. T. (2001). Public policy toward minority religions in the United States: A model for Europe? In P. Nesbitt (Ed.), Religion and Public Policy. New York: Alta Mira.

Richardson, J. T. & Introvigne, M. (2001). ‘Brainwashing' theories in European Parliamentary and Administrative reports on 'cults and sects’. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40, 143-168.

Richardson, J. T. (2000). Discretion and discrimination in legal cases involving controversial religious groups and allegations of ritual abuse. In R. Ahdar (Ed.), Law and Religion. Aldershot, UK. Ashgate.

Richardson, J. T. & Shterin, M. (2000). Effects of the western anti-cult movement on development of laws concerning religion in post-Communist Russia. Journal of Church and State, 42, 247-272.

Richardson, J. T. (2000). Social Control and Minority Faiths and Religious Freedom in Israel. Religion, Staat, Gesellschaft, 1, 23-40.

Richardson, J. T., Ginsburg, G.P., Gatowski, S.I., & Dobbin, S. A. (1995). Problems of Applying Daubert to Psychological Syndrome Evidence. Judicature, 79, 10-16.

Richardson, J. T. (1995). Manufacturing consent about Koresh: The role of the media in the Waco tragedy. S. Wright (Ed.), Armageddon in Waco. Chicago, IL: Univ. of Chicago Press.

Richardson, J. T. & DeWitt, J. (1992). Christian Science spiritual healing, public opinion, and the law. Journal of Church and State, 34, 549-562.

Richardson, J. T., Best, J. & Bomley, D. (1991). The Satanism Scare. New York, NY: Aldine.

Contact Info:

You can e-mail Dr. Richardson at jtr@unr.edu

Dr. Richardson's Home Page

Dr. Richardson's Social Psychology Page

Dr. Richardson's Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Richardson's Judicial Studies Page

Dr. Richardson's Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies Page

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