Biography and education
Logan J. Somers is an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Texas State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University in 2021.
His research focuses largely on emerging topics within policing such as officer work experience, police use of force, officer mindset (i.e., perceptions of danger), and evidence-based policing. This work can be seen in the Criminal Justice and Behavior, Police Quarterly, Justice Quarterly, Criminal Justice and Policy Review, Policing and Society, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, and Behavioral Sciences and the Law among others.
His research focuses largely on emerging topics within policing such as officer work experience, police use of force, officer mindset (i.e., perceptions of danger), and evidence-based policing. This work can be seen in the Criminal Justice and Behavior, Police Quarterly, Justice Quarterly, Criminal Justice and Policy Review, Policing and Society, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, and Behavioral Sciences and the Law among others.
Featured grants
- Terrill, William (Principal), Somers, Logan Joseph (Co-Principal), Bishopp, Stephen (Co-Principal). Dialogue that Works: Examining Police Communication Strategies and Citizen Compliance, National Institute of Justice, Federal, $399881. (Funded: 2025 - 2026). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Todak, N., & Somers, L. J. (2025). A tutorial on mixed methods research for policing scholars. The Police Journal, 98(2), 426–441. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X241299749
- Somers, L. J., & Todak, N. (n.d.). Shaping police self-efficacy: A content analysis of officer views towards their duty assignments, working locations, and working times. Journal of Crime and Justice, 1–15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/0735648X.2025.2454679
- Cronin, N., Rojek, J., Uchida, C. D., Somers, L. J., & Black, H. (2025). Body-Worn Cameras in Indian Country: Perspectives from Tribal Police Chiefs (pp. 1–12).
- Somers, L. J., Todak, N., Mourtgos, S. M., & Adams, I. T. (n.d.). Through thick and thin: Comparing traditional qualitative analysis and natural language processing techniques using narrative data from police officers. Justice Quarterly, 1–22. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2025.2564394
- Somers, L. J., & Graham, A. (2025). Motivations and Likelihood of the Public to Consider a Career in Policing. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-05-2025-0088
Featured service activities
- Editorial Review Board Member
Criminal Justice & Behavior
- Editorial Review Board Member
Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice
- Reviewer / Referee
Criminology & Public Policy
- Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Crime and Justice
- Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
- Reviewer / Referee
Public Health