Paul is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of New Mexico and a retired Professor of Sociology and Criminology, and Director of the Center for Justice Studies, at Morehead State University. While in New Mexico, he was appointed by the governor to direct the State’s Criminal Justice Analysis Center. He is also a Fellow of the Oxford University Roundtable, and a past recipient of the Gunther Starkey Award for Teaching Excellence. Paul has been engaged in research on the mistreatment of children and helped establish the first Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) in New Mexico. He later helped to establish and assess other CACs across the U.S.

His interest in child welfare issues led to engagement in research concerning service delivery and life outcomes of children exposed in utero to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. More recently, his research focus has shifted to an exploration of professional decision-making in civil and criminal justice systems as it affects the outcomes of child sexual abuse cases. This work was stimulated by his engagement as a program evaluator for the Safe Kids/Safe Streets federal initiative, and as am evaluator for the Disproportionate Minority Contact initiative, both funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S Department of Justice.

Steele has published numerous articles and professional publications, and has presented the findings of his research at national professional meetings and invited lectures. He currently is engaged in research concerning risks and outcomes of suspected child sexual abuse on tribal lands. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Native American Children’s Alliance, Board of Directors of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and was a member of the Native American/Alaska Native Advisory Committee, Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center.