He earned a PhD in Sociology from Iowa State University, and his background includes work with behavior-disordered and delinquent youth in residential treatment. His research and writing interests are in juvenile delinquency, victimology, and criminal justice policy and practice, and he has published articles in journals such as Youth and Society, Journal of Social Psychology, Czech Sociological Review, Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, and the International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences. Dr. Johnson regularly teaches juvenile delinquency, victimology, family violence, race and crime, and research methods courses.