GUANGZHEN WU

Guangzhen Wu is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminology at the University of Utah. He earned his PhD from Washington State University. His research focuses on the generality of criminological theory, community and crime, policing, drug policy, and applied quantitative methods in crime and justice data. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, his work explores crime, justice, and public health issues from criminological, sociological, and psychological perspectives. Dr. Wu's current projects examine the multi-faceted societal impact of cannabis legalization, the role of community context (e.g., various forms of neighborhood social control) on police legitimacy, and cross-cultural comparisons of police integrity and the police code of silence. His published work appears in journals such as The British Journal of Criminology, Journal of Experimental Criminology, Journal of Criminal Justice, Crime & Delinquency, International Journal of Drug Policy, Justice Quarterly, Police Quarterly, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and Youth & Society. His research articles were featured or cited in a range of national/international and local media outlets, including the Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Kansas City Star, Vancouver Sun, The Seattle Times, Newsweek, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, NORML, National Affairs, and the World Drug Report 2022 by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He received the 2023 Junior Scholar Award from the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Drugs & Society for his research contributions within the discipline. He is also the recipient of the 2024 Superior Teaching Award (for junior tenure-line faculty) from the University of Utah's College of Social and Behavioral Science (CSBS).