James T. Richardson (born August 25, 1941) is Emeritus Foundation Professor of Sociology and Judicial Studies at the

University of Nevada The University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada, the University of Nevada, or UNR) is a public land-grant research university in Reno, Nevada. It is the state's flagship public university and primary land grant institution. It was founded on October 12 ...

, Reno. He is a sociologist with legal training, who has edited and co-edited over a dozen books and has authored more than 300 scholarly journal articles and book chapters. Areas in which he is specialized include the sociology of religion, the sociology of law, religion and human rights, social control of religions, social psychology of law, social and behavioral science evidence, and treatment of Muslims in courts. Richardson has been an outstanding figure in American sociology of religion for decades, and is considered to be one of the most prominent figures in the field of law and religion in the World. He is also a known scientific critic of brainwashing theories.

Education and career

Prof. Richardson received his B.A. in Sociology from

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sy ...

in 1965, M.A. in Sociology from

in 1966, Ph.D. in Sociology from

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant uni ...

in 1968, and

Doctor of Jurisprudence The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...

(J.D.) from Old College,

Nevada School of Law Nevada School of Law at Old College was the first law school established in the state of Nevada. The school, located in Reno, was founded in 1981 by former president of Gonzaga University Rev. John "Jack" P. Leary and then- Washoe County District ...

in 1986. He has served as president of the

Association for the Sociology of Religion The Association for the Sociology of Religion (ASR) is an academic association with more than 700 members worldwide. It publishes a journal, '' Sociology of Religion'', and holds meetings at the same venues and times as the American Sociological A ...

Society for the Scientific Study of Religion The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (founded in 1949) was formed to advance research in the social scientific perspective on religious institutions and experiences. The ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'' is published by ...

, and the national president of the

American Association of University Professors The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership includes over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations. The AAUP's stated mission is ...

. He has been the former director of Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies at the UNR (1992-2014), and has directed the Judicial Studies graduate degree program for trial judges since 1988 as well as the Justice Management online graduate degree program since 2005 at that university before his retirement in 2016.

Selected Bibliography

* Fokas, Effie, and J.T. Richardson (eds.). (2018). ''The European Court of Human Rights and Minority Religions: Messages Generated and Messages Received''. London: Routledge. * Possamai, Adam, Richardson, J.T., and B.S. Turner (eds.). (2015). ''The Sociology of Shari’a: Case Studies from around the World''. New York: Springer. * Possamai, Adam, Richardson, J.T., and B.S. Turner (eds.). (2014). ''Legal Pluralism and Shari’a Law''. London: Routledge. * Richardson, J.T., and Francois Bellanger (eds.). (2014) ''Legal Cases Involving New Religions and Minority Faiths''. Aldershot: Ashgate. * Wright, S.A., and J.T. Richardson (eds.). (2011). ''Saints under Siege: The Raid on the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints in Texas''. New York: New York University Press. * Beckford, J.A., and J.T. Richardson (eds.). (2004). ''Challenging Religion: Essays in Honour of Eileen Barker''. New York: Taylor & Francis. * Richardson, J.T., Best, Joel, and D.G. Bromley (eds.). (1991). ''The Satanism Scare''. Piscataway, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.

References

External links

Prof. James T. Richardson page at UNR

American sociologists 1940s births Living people University of Nevada, Reno faculty Texas Tech University alumni Washington State University alumni {{US-sociologist-stub