David Khey

Dr. David N. Khey has focused his research on a few areas in criminology, criminal justice, and forensic science. In particular, he is currently investigating drug policy, control, toxicology, chemistry, and addiction, as well as the changing evidentiary power of forensic science technologies. Born and raised in South Florida during the late 1970s and early 80s, drug policy and enforcement quickly piqued his interest. In this topical area, Dr. Khey has presented research on drug and alcohol use/abuse and provided policy analysis to local and state officials in Florida and Louisiana. He has formal training in drug testing compliance and fidelity, methods of detection of drug testing adulteration, and the neurobiology of addiction. Dr. Khey is also proficient in the development of logic models to ameliorate alcohol and substance misuse and abuse problems at the community level. In this vein, Dr. Khey spent three years assisting several counties in North-Central Florida in obtaining and maintaining state and federal funding to reduce the consequences of alcohol and substance misuse and abuse before taking an academic position at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has also been an active member on local and regional alcohol and substance misuse and abuse coalitions. He excels in bridging personality differences across law enforcement, social workers, academics, pharmacists, faith leaders, and laypersons and has aided in bringing strong personalities together and aligning them to tackle common aims.

Ph.D. Criminology, Law, & Society, 2009
University of Florida

M.S., Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2005
University of Florida

• Substance use and abuse
• Customizing harm reduction approaches
• Applied justice research
• Toxicology and drug testing

Opportunities for Student Research/Collaboration:

Various topics of applied research in criminology and criminal justice, both for undergraduate and graduate students

Selected publications:

• Pigott, C., Stearns, A. E., & Khey, D. N. (2018). School resource officers and the school to prison pipeline: Discovering trends of expulsions in public schools. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 43(1), 120-138.
• Zemmels, D. R., & Khey, D. N. (2015). Sharing of digital visual media: privacy concerns and trust among young people. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(2), 285-302.
• Jennings, W. G., Khey, D. N., Maskaly, J., & Donner, C. M. (2011). Evaluating the relationship between law enforcement and school security measures and violent crime in schools. Journal of police crisis negotiations, 11(2), 109-124.
• Griffin, O. H., Lee Miller, B., & Khey, D. N. (2008). Legally high? Legal considerations of Salvia divinorum. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 40(2), 183-191.

2022 Masters Student Mentor Award