When people hear “criminal defense attorney,” they picture trials, arguments, and verdicts. They rarely imagine dissertations, data sets, and doctoral defenses. But for me, those two worlds aren’t separate, they're connected.
This spring, I earned my Ph.D. in Instructional Management and Leadership from Robert Morris University. My dissertation, “Reversing Course: Gauging Perceptions of Stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System Towards Reform to Decrease Mass Incarceration,” wasn’t just an academic exercise, it was the next step in my mission to improve a system that too often fails the people it’s supposed to serve.
Why I Went Back to School
For years, I’ve represented individuals and families torn apart by incarceration, probation traps, and procedural injustices. I’ve seen how outcomes often hinge not on the facts of the case, but on policy, discretion, and systemic inertia.
I didn’t pursue a Ph.D. for prestige. I pursued it because real change requires more than advocacy, it requires understanding how to influence the system from the inside out.
My research focused on how judges, prosecutors, police officers, defense attorneys, and probation officers think about their roles in the justice system. What I found is clear: when decision-makers are shown the local data, patterns of disparity, and the unintended consequences of routine choices, they begin to reflect, and often shift their thinking.
That shift is the key to reform.
What the Data Says (And What We Can Do About It)
Let’s take Allegheny County, where I practice law. Here are just a few facts that sparked serious conversations in my research:
Many individuals remain jailed pretrial not because they’re dangerous, but because they can’t afford bail.
Technical probation violations—missed meetings, minor infractions—are a major driver of jail admissions.
System responses are often inconsistent, with limited access to diversion, treatment, or rehabilitation, especially for those new to the system.
My study showed that when stakeholders are exposed to this kind of data, they begin to acknowledge their personal responsibility for change. That’s the power of education. That’s the promise of reform.
What’s Next?
Now that I’ve earned my doctorate, people have asked: What’s next?
The answer is: more of what I’ve always done, only with a deeper foundation and broader reach. I remain committed to courtroom advocacy and client-centered defense. But I’m also exploring how I can serve more broadly to change the system from the inside out.Â
I believe justice should be transparent, accountable, and informed. And I believe those who serve in the system should be willing to challenge it—starting with themselves.
Final Thoughts
This journey taught me something I already knew but had to experience firsthand: the law is about people, not process. If we want to reduce incarceration, restore trust, and create a system worthy of the name “justice,” we need leaders who are ready to learn, ready to listen, and ready to lead.
To my clients, colleagues, and community: thank you for walking with me. The work continues!
About Frank Walker Law
Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer, and Personal Injury Attorney who has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a member of the National College for DUI Defense, Best Attorneys in America, Best Law firms of America, America’s Greatest Attorneys, and a Top AVVO Rated attorney, with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.
Additionally, you can find Attorney Walker on YouTube, TikTok, the Pittsburgh Attorney Podcast and the West Virginia Attorney Podcast, where he gives legal tips (not advice!) and discusses the pressing legal issues of the day.
If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or are seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-532-6805 (Pittsburgh), 304-413-0179 (Morgantown), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.