Charles Katz is an expert in criminology, criminal justice and gang violence.Katz is Watts Endowed Family Chair, a Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Director of the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety.

Much of his research focuses on gangs and strategic responses to community gang problems. He served as the principal investigator for an NIJ-funded project examining the police response to gangs in four cities: Phoenix, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Inglewood, California. 

Related to this research, Dr. Katz spent over 2,000 hours in the field with gang unit officers across the country, examining organizational structures and operational strategies that effectively respond to gangs.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has also funded its work to examine the size, scope, and organizational structure of MS13.