Rick Ruddell

 Rick Ruddell, the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan Chair in Police Studies, joined the Department of Justice Studies at the University of Regina in September, 2010. Prior to this appointment he served as Director of Operational Research with the Correctional Service of Canada, and held faculty positions at Eastern Kentucky University and the California State University, Chico.  Prior to his academic career, he served with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing as a supervisor and manager. A graduate of the Ph.D. program in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, Dr. Ruddell's research has focused upon policing, criminal justice policy, and youth justice.

Ruddell has published over 130 peer reviewed articles, technical reports, encyclopedia entries, and articles in professional journals, and written, edited, or co-authored 13 books including Oil, Gas, and Crime: The Dark Side of the Boom (Palgrave Macmillan), and the third edition of Making Sense of Criminal Justice (Oxford University Press) was published in 2018. The second edition of Exploring Criminal Justice in Canada (Oxford University Press) is forthcoming in 2019, and a book entitled Contemporary Corrections: A Critical Thinking Approach (Routledge) is currently in progress.

As Law Foundation of Saskatchewan Chair in Police Studies, Rick Ruddell's research has focussed on issues important to Saskatchewan, including the impacts of resource-based booms on policing, community perceptions of law enforcement, policing rural and remote communities, the economics of policing, and the efficicacy of traffic enforcement on reducing serious collisions.

Members of the University community,

I am writing to share some sad news. We recently learned of the sudden and unexpected death of our friend and colleague, Dr. Rick Ruddell.

As a professor of Justice Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Law Foundation of Saskatchewan Chair in Police Studies, Dr. Ruddell had been teaching and researching at the University of Regina since 2010. Prior to joining us, he served as Director of Operational Research with the Correctional Service of Canada and held faculty positions at Eastern Kentucky University and California State University.

Dr. Ruddell was well-respected for his expertise in policing, criminal justice policy and youth justice. He had published more than 130 peer-reviewed articles, technical reports and encyclopedia entries and had written, edited or co-authored 14 books. He was regularly and widely sought after by journalists to speak on justice and policing issues, most recently for this Globe & Mail article published on December 22, 2022.

Most importantly, our hearts go out to Rick’s family and friends at this difficult time.

Rick was a friend, colleague, teacher and mentor to many. He will be dearly missed by the University of Regina family he leaves behind. I wish to offer my condolences to all faculty, staff and students who knew Rick and benefited from his knowledge and passion for teaching and learning. Please be aware that there are supports in place to support you now and in the coming days and weeks. University of Regina Counselling Servicesis available for students, as are supports through the Student Wellness Centre and the University’s Mental Wellness Hub. For faculty and staff members, support is available through your Employee and Family Assistance Program which can be accessed by logging into UR Self Service.

In the coming days, we will make arrangements to fill the academic and advising gaps that this tragedy leaves behind. We will communicate those directly to those affected. At this time, we have yet to learn details of any memorial service that may be planned, but we will be sure to pass that information along as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Jeff Keshen

President and Vice-Chancellor