Joshua R. Coene

Joshua R. Coene’s research and teaching interests include criminal law, immigration and refugee law, disaster management, political economy, and the sociology of punishment in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Coene’s doctoral research explored the relationship between penal policy, prisoners’ rights movement, and changes in prison management in the last several decades of the 20th century as a transnational phenomenon. More recently, his research focus has been on how disaster management policy and climate change litigation affect vulnerable, confined populations.

Coene earned his J.D. at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. He received a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Michigan’s Doctoral Program in Anthropology and History as well as a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh. His work had been supported by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the National Science Foundation, and the Lois Roth Foundation.

Prior to joining the law faculty, Coene was the Managing Editor of Buddhism, Law & Society, an interdisciplinary legal journal published by William S. Hein & Co., Inc. He also worked with Teresa Miller in her capacity as the University at Buffalo’s first Vice Provost of Equity and Inclusion and did legal research and drafting for two law firms in Buffalo.