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Biography:

Dr. Bitna Kim is a professor and the Director of International Initiatives at the College of Criminal Justice. She also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. ( https://journals.sagepub.com/home/ijo)

Dr. Kim's expertise centers on (1) bridging research, practice, and policy through translational criminology, (2) conducting research synthesis using systematic reviews and meta-analyses, along with promoting effective research dissemination to practitioners and policymakers, (3) fostering interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration among scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and communities, and (4) advancing international and comparative perspectives with a focus on transnational and transcultural criminology and criminal justice.

Her recent research addresses critical contemporary issues, including campus carry policies, cyberstalking, police responses to individuals with mental illness, poverty and income inequality, and victim assistance. She has also published extensively on intrafamilial homicide, domestic violence, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), workplace violence, rape myths, and prison rape. Additionally, her work explores collaborations across criminal justice agencies, research-practitioner partnerships, and strategies for effectively disseminating research to practitioners. Her expertise in international comparative criminology further underscores her global approach to advancing the field.

Beyond her research endeavors, Dr. Kim is actively engaged in leadership roles within key professional associations. She currently serves as President of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) for 2024-2025 and Vice Chair of the International Division of Criminology (DIC) at the American Society of Criminology (ASC). Her appointment as a national expert for the Crime & Justice Research Alliance (CJRA) in 2017 highlights her commitment to bridging academia and policy both nationally and globally.