Dustin Richardson, Ph.D., joined PERF in August 2022 and serves as a Senior Research Associate. Since joining the organization, he has led multiple applied research initiatives in partnership with law enforcement agencies nationwide, addressing some of the most pressing issues in policing. Using a range of methodological approaches—including nationally representative surveys, case studies, and stakeholder workshops— his work has examined how agencies prepare for and manage mass demonstrations, leverage body-worn camera footage to enhance in-service training, and support community violence intervention efforts. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Justice Quarterly, and he regularly presents findings to both academic and practitioner audiences. 

Dustin earned his Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of South Florida under the mentorship of PERF’s former Director of Research, Dr. Lorie Fridell. His dissertation, The “Reasonableness Divide”: Comparing Community Members’ Assessments of Force Reasonableness to Legal Standards, found that community assessments of force reasonableness aligned with the legal standard established in Graham v. Connor only about half of the time, in part because legally irrelevant factors influenced their assessments (you can find a summary here). Dustin also holds an M.S. in Criminal Justice Sciences from Illinois State University and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Springfield.