Immigration and serious gang violence: Assessing the immigrant revitalization thesis on urban gang shootings Over the past few decades, extensive empirical evidence has supported the immigrant revitalization thesis, demonstrating that immigration is often ass…

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

University researchers: Is immigration driving crime in Chicago? Here’s what the data shows. Immigration has become one of America’s sharpest flashpoints, increasingly framed not only as a border issue but as a public safety threat. In recent weeks, that framing has turned into real-world …

New op-ed out in the Chicago Tribune translating our research on immigration, gangs, and public safety in Chicago. The evidence challenges common narratives and highlights what the data actually show. Full article link in comment!

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/o...

North Dakota House kills attorney general’s truth-in-sentencing bill Lawmakers debated amendments and Senate Bill 2128 for two hours. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, who proposed the bill, said he will keep pushing the issue.

North Dakota's rejection of a proposed truth-in-sentencing law is an important moment in the debate over criminal justice reform. In my recent article, lnkd.in/gdC2H3tf, I wrote about the resurgence truth-in-sentencing even as research questions it. www.inforum.com/news/north-d...

Deportation by Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin Never Works | Opinion The immigrant gang member is back in the news—the boogeyman allegedly responsible for mass violence in the United States, the existential threat that must be deported. Or so we're told.

The "immigrant gang member" is back in the news, the boogeyman responsible for mass violence in the United States. In our new op-ed, James and I challenge this harmful social construction and the flawed labels being used to justify deportations. Read here: www.newsweek.com/why-deportat...

I know there's a lot happening at the federal level, but we need to pay attention to state-level returns to punitive sentencing. Most people are incarcerated in state, not federal, prisons. Meaning state policies have the biggest impact on incarceration

States that impose severe prison sentences accomplish the opposite of what they say they want Research shows that imposing longer sentences harms inmates and society. There are less expensive − and more effective − ways to hold people accountable and help them prepare for life after prison.

I was incarcerated for 11 years but was 100 days away from serving 22. I was arrested right before Truth in Sentencing was passed. Had that law applied to me, I wouldn't be a professor today or have a family. Now, these laws are making a comeback. Read more here
theconversation.com/states-that-...

While research on surveillance often focuses on crime reduction & deterrence, we show its unintended consequences, how it transforms gang dynamics & status-seeking behaviors. Feel free to inbox me if you need a copy!

We call this “the status of the surveilled.” Increased scrutiny doesn’t always deter gangs, instead, it reshapes their interaction rituals and reinforces their presence.

Even loitering on a street corner takes on new meaning: it’s not just being there, it’s surviving the risk of being watched, stopped, or arrested. Surveillance elevates status, for both individuals and the gang itself.

Unlike past research, which focuses on how hyper-surveillance pushes people away from crime, we find that police surveillance itself becomes a status symbol. Visibility under scrutiny signals resilience, defiance, and gang credibility.

These threats & displays are often performative, but the ritual itself tells us something important: it reflects how gang status has evolved over time in response to external forces, including police surveillance and enhanced policing.

Using Chicago as a case study, we analyzed archived media (cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs) documenting Latino gang interactions from 1996 to 2012. These recordings capture gang members repping their sets, disrespecting rivals, and performing status rituals.

The Status of the Surveilled: Hyper Surveillance and Status Attainment among Gangs Abstract. Using a case study of Latino gangs in Chicago over a 15-year period and original data compiled from gang cassette mixtapes, CDs, and DVDs, this r

I know there's a lot going on, and this isn't a normal time. But sharing research helps me feel normal so I'm going for it. Community surveillance is everywhere these days, but what does that mean for street gangs? Check out our paper in Social Problems for answers

academic.oup.com/socpro/advan...

For crim scholars: Not sure if this has made the rounds yet but it looks like NIJ has also canceled all funding opportunities and associated webinars. Something to keep am eye on.

Thanks for making the list! Can I be added also?