Paul Sturgis

Visiting Assistant Professor

Paul Sturgis’ research interests are in criminology-social control and the sociology of religion.  One of his projects examines how group level religiosity affects the individual level relationship between religiosity and deviance among prison inmates.  He is also interested in determining if the growth and decline of different religious denominations in the United States is best explained by institutional factors, or by demographic factors.  In the near future, he plans to begin a project that would examine the practice of religion in the prison system, in order to better understand the complex relationship between religiosity and deviance among prison inmates.

Dr. Sturgis primarily teaches in the area of crime and deviance.  He taught at the University of Missouri before coming to Iowa, and he has taught such courses as criminology, deviance, criminal punishment, criminal legal system, research methods, and introductory sociology.