Lois V. Woods

Dr. Lois V. Woods is an Associate Professor in the criminal justice program, where she teaches, mentors, and chairs graduate and doctoral students. With her combined experience in law enforcement, prosecution, and higher education, she brings a practitioner-scholar perspective to her teaching and research that bridges the gap between theory and practice. Prior to her full-time academic career, Dr. Woods served for twenty years in the criminal justice system, rising from Investigator to Chief Investigator in the Clayton County Solicitor General’s Office and later serving as Investigator III in the Clayton Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. In these roles, she directed investigations, supervised staff, supported the prosecution of felony and misdemeanor offenses, and testified as an expert witness. She is a Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training certified executive and master training instructor and has trained law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and victim advocates across the state of Georgia.

She has been published in criminal justice journals and has presented her scholarship at national conferences hosted by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology. Her research interests center on policing and law enforcement culture, political identity, juvenile justice policy, and justice administration and equity.

Dr. Woods is an appointed Fellow of the Polarities of Democracy Institute and holds certification as an academic program peer reviewer from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. She has conducted peer reviews for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Law and Public Policy Journal and the United States Department of Justice JustGrants Program.

Education

PhD, Walden University

MPhil, Walden University

MS, Columbus State Univeristy Command College

Publications

Woods, L. V. (2020). Juvenile detention alternatives initiative, zero-tolerance discipline, and the school-to-prison pipeline. . Journal of Sustainable Change

Woods, L. V., Blackmon, K. K. (2021). Police officer political identity and their opinions of public protests. Journal of Criminal Justice and Law

Presentations

Blackmon, K. K., Woods, L. V. (2024). Policing & Polarization: Exploring the Influence of Political Divisions on Law Enforcement Leadership. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

Blackmon, K. K., Woods, L. V. (2023). Challenging the Thin Blue Line: Navigating the Intersection of Democrat Police Officers and Law Enforcement Conservatism.. Society for Police and Criminal Psychology

Woods, L. V., Blackmon, K. K. (2022). Police officer political identity and their opinions of public protests. Walden University

Blackmon, K. K., Lee, J., Smith, M. W., Woods, L. V. (2021). Using EI to Improve Relations Between Communities and Law Enforcement. . Walden University