We Are All Criminals

• In Event: 420 - Research Poster Session. Communicating Sociology

Abstract

One in four people in the US have a criminal record. This paper considers the other 75%: people who committed crimes but were not caught.

Qualitative interviews were conducted of more than 50 participants, discussing offenses from petty thefts to attempted murder; individuals include doctors and lawyers, students and social workers, retailers and retirees. Working with the interviewer, the participant created a ‘criminal record’ (and reflection of privilege or luck) for public consumption, carefully constructed to conceal his or her identity.

We will present findings with a consideration of the collateral consequences typically triggered by the disclosed offenses. An examination of these consequences will show the statutory or practical barriers to employment, education, housing, etc. the participants would have faced had they been caught. We will also discuss the responses to the project, both by participants and by others.

Through our poster, we seek to challenge society’s perception of what a criminal record means – and how much weight should it be given, when truly – we are all criminals. It also explores and disrupts the common sense distinction between “criminals” and “law-abiding citizens,” central to criminal justice thinking and policies. Finally, it is a commentary on the disparate impact of laws, policing, and prosecution: many of the participants benefited from belonging to a class and race not overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
Criminal records perpetuate inequities, precluding people from countless economic opportunities. We Are All Criminals questions the wisdom and fairness in that.

Authors

• Emily Baxter, Council on Crime and Justice

• Joshua Aaron Page, University of Minnesota

• Ebony Ruhland, University of Minnesota