Justice and Injustice: Political Science Perspectives on Crime and Punishment In-Person Mini-Conference

The criminal justice system is an important and increasingly visible issue in American politics, and in political science. Under what conditions are citizens effectively able to exert control over criminal legal actors, particularly in the wake of violent episodes? To what extent does criminal justice serve the vital role in a democracy of promoting human and civil rights, and to what extent does it undermine those ends? How do the characteristics of criminal legal actors and discretion in their positions impact outcomes for citizens? What are the possibilities for reform, and what is the role of social scientists in it’s promotion? The “Justice and Injustice: Political Science Perspectives on Crime and Punishment” mini-conference engages these questions, shedding light on the causes and consequences of state coercion, and the struggle among citizens to survive and contest its power in an era of increasing authoritarianism.

The aim of the conference is to foster the growth of the subfield and student of criminal justice in Political Science. The conference is structured to foster collaboration and mentorship. We feature emerging scholars in a junior poster session, where each participant is assigned a senior scholar to provide feedback. Our concluding round-table features senior scholars sharing their wisdom and discussing important developments in the field. Three research panels feature scholars on the rise whose work is at the cutting edge, methodologically and substantively. The day concludes with happy hour, to allow informal conversation in a more relaxed setting. In sum, the mini-conference makes a vital contribution to the development community around one of the most pressing issues in contemporary politics.