Entries by Jeffrey Ian Ross

Analyzing legislators’ recent attempts to address the FBOP Crisis

Although correctional facilities and practices in the United States may not be as bad as those which exist in lessor developed countries, American prison systems have routinely been criticized for having a substantial amount of correctional officer deviance, corruption, poor living conditions, including overcrowding, substandard food, medical and psychiatric care, among other challenges. Some experts […]

Thinking about the ten year anniversary of THE GLOBALIZATION OF SUPERMAX PRISONS

A decade has passed since the publication of my edited book, The Globalization of Supermax Prisons. This collection of thirteen chapters, four of which I sole-authored, and another I co-authored, was published in 2013 by Rutgers University Press. The Globalization of Supermax Prisons included a foreword by Loïc Wacquant, a highly regarded and respected Sociologist, […]

The iceberg explanation of police use of excessive force

Ocean going ships, are occasionally in danger of hitting an iceberg. If the vessel hits an iceberg, not only can the ship’s vital components like its propeller or rudders be impaired, thus negatively effecting the ship’s maneuverability, navigation systems, and propulsion, but the vessel’s structure may be damaged, leading to flooding and potentially sinking the […]

Exploring how graffiti and street art calls attention to social justice issues

Graffiti and street art has a longstanding connection with political and social issues. Not only do we see this kind of activity proliferate when controversial issues are contested in urban public spaces, but we typically witness graffiti and street art when a grass roots social movement develops, or political or social revolution emerges. In recent […]

Addressing the diversity of American correctional facilities and systems

Unless you have direct experience with incarceration, many people think that all correctional facilities and systems in the United States are the same. The reality, however, is that there’s considerable variety among the places and systems that manage the approximate 2.1 million people who are currently incarcerated. How exactly do correctional institutions and systems differ? […]