In our postindustrial and highly diverse and urbanized world, many people navigate life during unconventional hours.
One of the notable often-overlooked group that occupies this space are referred to as “night owls,” “night people,” and “night workers.”
In principle, night owls, are people who “come alive” at night. We see them on the street, running, walking their dogs, at the 24 hour gyms, and in the bars and restaurants we may frequent. They are often the regular patrons or clients at the places where night workers work and form part of the street culture we might encounter.
Night people can include both the night owls, and people who labor during the night time hours. The latter category, often referred to as night shift workers, are the individuals who chose or are forced to make their income during the nocturnal hours of the day.
Men and women who spend the majority of their days living and working during normal business hours rarely encounter night workers. Unless your partner, relative, or friend or acquaintance works at night, or we have to stay late at work, or are out at a bar or coming home from a restaurant or party late at night, and especially when we are tucked away, mostly safe, and ensconced in our own domiciles, night shift people almost seem invisible.
Are night workers different from those of us who choose to live or work primarily during the day or evening hours? Both anecdotal and empirical evidence seems to suggest as much.
Who are these people & in what contexts to they work?
Although some night workers engage in so-called unconventional, deviant, or criminal occupations like sex work, and all manner of street crime, most night shift workers make their living performing working class jobs and are part of the nighttime economy.
They are also predominantly concentrated in a handful of economic sectors or industries (e.g., Hospitality, Entertainment, Transportation, Emergency Services, Call Centers, Manufacturing and Production).
More specifically night shift workers can include EMTs, nurses, doctors, home health care aids, janitors, cleaners, police officers, correctional officers, and firefighters. It could be the clerk at a 24-hour retail grocery store, the individual restocking shelves at CVS, or the person you encounter during a late-night taxi or Uber ride.
We also encounter these individuals who labor in the mass transportation sector, like bus drivers and subway personnel, (not to mention airplane pilots, flight attendants and all manner of ground crew) that operate in most large urban environments 24 hours a day.
Most importantly, however we see these people in the restaurants, bars, and food preparation industry (including bartenders, to servers, to chefs/cooks and dishwashers).
It’s not just the service sector that employs men and women who work at night. We often fleetingly observe these people doing road and highway repair.
That package that you ordered yesterday that almost magically shows up on your doorstep in the morning didn’t just get there through some process that involved fairies and goblins.
In some contexts, night shift workers are paid higher (i.e., shift premiums) than other employees who work during the days and evenings.
Alternatively working the night shift might be preferred because this means a steady versus a rotating shift. This may ease the challenges of providing adequate coverage for taking care or loved ones like school age children or aging parents, or this timeslot may work well with going to school during the day.
Because there is often less traffic at night, it is sometimes easier for night workers to commute to their jobs.
Some men and women prefer to work at night because they find that the people that they deal with during those hours are more relaxed and amiable then coworkers, clients, and customers who are hurried during the day.
Sometimes night shifts are quieter than day and evening shifts, and thus the work situation is less stressful and workers can maybe even sneak off to get a nap
Finally, if it is a choice between working a job at night and no job at all, then for many people night shift is the only alternative they have to put food on the table, keep a roof over their head and provide for their loved ones.
Difficulties for people who work at night
Although the benefits of nighttime work are acknowledged, it’s crucial to address the shortcomings of this work arrangement.
To begin with, if night workers don’t have their own means of transportation, then they need to rely on others (i.e., friends, relatives, co-workers, etc.) to get them to work or public transportation which is slower and often less reliable.
Moreover, depending on the nature of their work, night workers may need better lighting, noise control, and ergonomic designs for machinery they operate or chairs they may sit at than day shift workers.
Night shift work can disrupt a person’s social and family life. It often means that these types of workers see less of their partners and children. Then again, some partnerships work seems to survive longer, when both partners rarely engage each other.
Above all are the health implications of working at night. A significant body of scholarly research, suggests that working at night can disrupt circadian rhythms, posing health risks.
Without a doubt working at night screws up your body, including sleep disturbances, obesity, and mental health problems. Additionally, working at night is often associated with increased safety challenges, especially in healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing settings.
Many people who work at night, are frequently sleep deprived. This is caused by numerous factors, including an inability to get proper rest during non-working hours, poor eating and exercise habits. They can be irritable and may make mistakes because of this situation. They say that working at night cuts a few years off a “normal” person’s life.
Thinking ahead
Identifying the challenges that night workers face may help us to better understand the individuals we encounter at this time of the day. This might better enable us to develop and/or maintain empathy with others in this world. It’s not just the average person, but policymakers need to consider the needs and challenges of night shift workers when creating labor laws and regulations. Meanwhile, in order to better manage the night time economy, some jurisdictions have established deputy or night mayors. The effectiveness of these position is yet to be known. Information on the intersection between work and the work environment is essential for effective policy development, economic vitality and the general mental and physical health of our population.
Photo Credit
Photographer: gato-gato-gato
Title: night shift at Starbucks
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/22984082663_5342abae33_c-1.jpg532799Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-01-14 14:19:282024-01-14 14:22:28Working the Night Shift
The movement of individuals and their frequent encroachment on personal space in public settings (particularly those located in urban environments) poses unique challenges.
These encounters consist of numerous types of interactions, norms, and unwritten rules that people follow or engage in or with in a multitude of places.
These exchanges also lead to a complex dance among individuals exposed to these situations
In bustling cities like Tokyo, pedestrians like motorists, appear to adhere to a structured set of rules. However, the situation drastically changes in places like New York City, where crowded sidewalks can lead to a constant jockeying for safe unencumbered passage. Likewise, instances of people exiting retail stores without considering those on the sidewalk are common.
This nonchalant behavior extends to various urban settings, including street markets, and cultural and sports venues. Even in spaces like movie theaters and mass transportation systems (e.g., seat hogging, unwanted touching, loud conversations or media, etc.), the lack of awareness about personal space is evident, with individuals encroaching on the space of others. “Yo lady. Would you please stop pulling the back of my seat every time you get up from yours? “
Some of of these interactions are conscious or unconscious, contestations ornegotiations over personal power, as if to say “who moves first”?
Undoubtedly, social and cultural factors come in to play when trying to understandpeoples use of public space and perceptions of encroachment.
Identifying the “Space Invaders”
From young (often un or poorly supervised) children, to senior citizens, to individuals unaccustomed to constrictive urban conditions, there are numerous “space invaders.” They are oblivious to their immediate surroundings. The consequence of such behavior often leads to unease and conflict when personal space is perceived to being threatend. (Just look at the numerous social media posts of irate airplane passengers, if you don’t believe me.).
Further exploring the Problem:
Lack of awareness regarding other people’s personal space in public areas can not only lead to people feeling uncomfortable, but can escalate into physical confrontations. Heightening public consciousness about respecting personal space might be helpful to prevent these sorts of situations.
Proposed Solutions:
Despite the cries of infantilizing the public, one suggestion to lessen the frequency of this kind of invasion of public space might be to use or increase the use of signs directing pedestrians and patrons on where, and how to walk, stand, etc. Using signs to clearly demarcate pedestrian walkways, and directional flow is warranted. Beyond signage, jurisdictions could explore integrating new types of technology, urban planning initiatives, and community engagement efforts toprovide a more holistic approach to the issue.
Moving on
The challenges posed by people encroaching on others personal space are undeniable. By understanding the nuances of different dynamics and addressing the issue of space invaders, we can contribute to creating more harmonious and respectful public spaces. Until then, this issue is simply one of several urban incivilities that people must deal with. This involves not only clear signage, but also a deeper exploration of cultural, social, and technological solutions to promote awareness and considerate behavior.
Photo Credit
Photographer Alex Proimos
Title: Pedestrians on a crosswalk in Buenos Aires
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-01-07-at-1.08.51 AM.png11401714Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-01-07 12:51:262024-09-22 12:19:37Navigating “Space Invaders” in Public Life
Well, that assumes she’s still alive, cares about the quirks of her former students, and, frankly, remembers me at all.
Let me take you back a few decades. Grade eight typing class was one of my numerous academic struggles. My thirteen-year-old hands just wouldn’t cooperate with the commands my brain sent them. I can still picture the look of disdain on my typing teacher’s face as I sheepishly handed in my assignments.
I felt I was doomed to a life of hand-written notes, letters, and term papers, Fast forward ten years, and typing became a significant part of my daily routine.
Not surprisingly, this blog is one of the many activities that put those typing skills to good use.
Every discipline has a number of foundational books, corrections is no different, and most experts studying jails, prisons, etc. have a list of their favorite works. Thus, I figured that the time was ripe to share mine more widely. Not only would I typically share this list with my graduate students, but I might give this list to give people I communicate with behind bars who are interested in this sort of thing. P.S. This post generated a handful of suggestions from other scholars.
On January 7, 2023 Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old unarmed African-American man was stopped by Memphis police officers, who were part of the controversial SCORPION tactical squad, and beaten to death. This incident, like so many similar ones in recent years would have been quickly ignored, but the fact that this model of aggressive policing had, in recent years, been criticized because of its inability to produce results, the violence it engaged in, and legal suits raised not just moral and ethical questions, but called into question the way that contemporary policing was being conducted in some jurisdictions in the United States. It appeared that police were simply going through the motions, rarely test their actions, and that police are not strategic.
Life, and more specifically careers and creative work are full of conscious and unconscious choices, and some are better than others. Creatives, entrepreneurs, etc. are often advised to choose projects that appear easy to accomplish. But equally important is the reality that the return on investment with these endeavors are sometimes not really worth the actual investment of resources (esp. time). The blog post attempts to explore the vicissitudes of this issue.
Since starting the blog, I have written a few posts about books and movies that I believe are interesting and pivotal. I thought it would be prudent to write one on one about the most important books that motivated me to pursue my masters degree. Not only did Why Men Rebel prompt me to consider and start graduate school, but I purposely sought out to work with Gurr, and can legitimately say that he was one of my first academic mentors. Not only is Why Men Rebel, a highly cited book, but it kicked off his career, and those of many scholars focusing on conflict studies.
Graffiti and Street Art are pervasive in most urban locations, and it appears as if almost everyone has an opinion on whether they like it and who and why they do it. But few people question their assumptions surrounding their opinions on this subject. One of the most significant opinions about graffiti and street art revolves around the meaning and purpose of this act of vandalism. This post tries to dissect the often romantic perspective that graffiti and street art are primarily acts of rebellion, protest or resistance. The reality is that there are lots of different types of graffiti and street and practitioners too, and to make broad sweeping generalizations about why people engage in this activity is foolhardy to say the least.
One of the recurrent questions prospective job candidates for academic jobs in Criminology/Criminal Justice and junior criminologists face is should they collaborate on research with or for a local criminal justice agency. This post explores both the advantages and disadvantages of this type of decision.
Another issue concerns using the information gleaned from formal instruction in the field of Criminology/Criminal Justice to assist one in malicious behavior. On December 30 2022, a graduate student in the doctoral program in Criminology at Washington State University, was charged with murder of four Idaho State University students. Not only do these types of sorts of stories titillate the public imagination, but frequenly force certain members of the public to ask just what people learn in the typical criminology/criminal justice curriculum.
In trying to navigate the complicated nature of most trades and professions one of the questions is should you join a professional organization, which one is best, and what are the costs and benefits of doing so? This post applies this question to the subject area of Criminology/Criminal Justice.
Earning a Ph.D. is a resource intensive endeavor, but how do you make the best choice and minimize risk in choosing what to study and where?. Thus, one of the logical questions, particularly if you live in the part of the country, or a country where a PhD in Criminology/Criminal Justice does not exist, is what are the potential cost-benefit calculations you might confront if you decide to persue doctoral studies in an allied field?
Similar to the post that looked at graffiti and street art as resistance, this one considered whether this type of vandalism is done to further social justice issues. The short answer is some of it is, and some of it does not. The post tries to identify the contexts where we see graffiti and street art more prominently throughout the urban landscape as a commentary on social justice issues.
Wrapping Up
In closing, I want to express my sincere gratitude to my family, friends, and colleagues who have generously provided constructive feedback on selected draft posts before publication. Heartfelt appreciation also goes out to all my readers, particularly those who have taken the time to respond, share suggestions, and contribute their valuable experiences related to the topics I’ve explored.
Your ongoing engagement and support have been instrumental in shaping the direction of this blog.
Thank you for being a vital part of this community, and here’s to another year of growth and shared experiences.
As I look ahead to 2024, I hope to maintain the same level of productivity and creativity as I did in 2023. I’m dedicated to delivering content that is compelling, thought-provoking, and occasionally evoke genuine moments of laughter throughout the journey.
Photo Credit
Photographer: Kiran Foster
Title: Typing
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/5760476367_77ce16bf12_c.jpg600800Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2023-12-30 06:22:502023-12-30 06:22:50Would my eighth-grade typing teacher be proud of me now?
Working the Night Shift
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIn our postindustrial and highly diverse and urbanized world, many people navigate life during unconventional hours.
One of the notable often-overlooked group that occupies this space are referred to as “night owls,” “night people,” and “night workers.”
In principle, night owls, are people who “come alive” at night. We see them on the street, running, walking their dogs, at the 24 hour gyms, and in the bars and restaurants we may frequent. They are often the regular patrons or clients at the places where night workers work and form part of the street culture we might encounter.
Night people can include both the night owls, and people who labor during the night time hours. The latter category, often referred to as night shift workers, are the individuals who chose or are forced to make their income during the nocturnal hours of the day.
Men and women who spend the majority of their days living and working during normal business hours rarely encounter night workers. Unless your partner, relative, or friend or acquaintance works at night, or we have to stay late at work, or are out at a bar or coming home from a restaurant or party late at night, and especially when we are tucked away, mostly safe, and ensconced in our own domiciles, night shift people almost seem invisible.
Are night workers different from those of us who choose to live or work primarily during the day or evening hours? Both anecdotal and empirical evidence seems to suggest as much.
Who are these people & in what contexts to they work?
Although some night workers engage in so-called unconventional, deviant, or criminal occupations like sex work, and all manner of street crime, most night shift workers make their living performing working class jobs and are part of the nighttime economy.
They are also predominantly concentrated in a handful of economic sectors or industries (e.g., Hospitality, Entertainment, Transportation, Emergency Services, Call Centers, Manufacturing and Production).
More specifically night shift workers can include EMTs, nurses, doctors, home health care aids, janitors, cleaners, police officers, correctional officers, and firefighters. It could be the clerk at a 24-hour retail grocery store, the individual restocking shelves at CVS, or the person you encounter during a late-night taxi or Uber ride.
We also encounter these individuals who labor in the mass transportation sector, like bus drivers and subway personnel, (not to mention airplane pilots, flight attendants and all manner of ground crew) that operate in most large urban environments 24 hours a day.
Most importantly, however we see these people in the restaurants, bars, and food preparation industry (including bartenders, to servers, to chefs/cooks and dishwashers).
It’s not just the service sector that employs men and women who work at night. We often fleetingly observe these people doing road and highway repair.
That package that you ordered yesterday that almost magically shows up on your doorstep in the morning didn’t just get there through some process that involved fairies and goblins.
Advantages of working at night
Working nights can provide identifiable benefits for some people who choose to make their living during this time period.
In some contexts, night shift workers are paid higher (i.e., shift premiums) than other employees who work during the days and evenings.
Alternatively working the night shift might be preferred because this means a steady versus a rotating shift. This may ease the challenges of providing adequate coverage for taking care or loved ones like school age children or aging parents, or this timeslot may work well with going to school during the day.
Because there is often less traffic at night, it is sometimes easier for night workers to commute to their jobs.
Some men and women prefer to work at night because they find that the people that they deal with during those hours are more relaxed and amiable then coworkers, clients, and customers who are hurried during the day.
Sometimes night shifts are quieter than day and evening shifts, and thus the work situation is less stressful and workers can maybe even sneak off to get a nap
Finally, if it is a choice between working a job at night and no job at all, then for many people night shift is the only alternative they have to put food on the table, keep a roof over their head and provide for their loved ones.
Difficulties for people who work at night
Although the benefits of nighttime work are acknowledged, it’s crucial to address the shortcomings of this work arrangement.
To begin with, if night workers don’t have their own means of transportation, then they need to rely on others (i.e., friends, relatives, co-workers, etc.) to get them to work or public transportation which is slower and often less reliable.
Moreover, depending on the nature of their work, night workers may need better lighting, noise control, and ergonomic designs for machinery they operate or chairs they may sit at than day shift workers.
Night shift work can disrupt a person’s social and family life. It often means that these types of workers see less of their partners and children. Then again, some partnerships work seems to survive longer, when both partners rarely engage each other.
Above all are the health implications of working at night. A significant body of scholarly research, suggests that working at night can disrupt circadian rhythms, posing health risks.
Without a doubt working at night screws up your body, including sleep disturbances, obesity, and mental health problems. Additionally, working at night is often associated with increased safety challenges, especially in healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing settings.
Many people who work at night, are frequently sleep deprived. This is caused by numerous factors, including an inability to get proper rest during non-working hours, poor eating and exercise habits. They can be irritable and may make mistakes because of this situation. They say that working at night cuts a few years off a “normal” person’s life.
Thinking ahead
Identifying the challenges that night workers face may help us to better understand the individuals we encounter at this time of the day. This might better enable us to develop and/or maintain empathy with others in this world. It’s not just the average person, but policymakers need to consider the needs and challenges of night shift workers when creating labor laws and regulations. Meanwhile, in order to better manage the night time economy, some jurisdictions have established deputy or night mayors. The effectiveness of these position is yet to be known. Information on the intersection between work and the work environment is essential for effective policy development, economic vitality and the general mental and physical health of our population.
Photo Credit
Photographer: gato-gato-gato
Title: night shift at Starbucks
Navigating “Space Invaders” in Public Life
/by Jeffrey Ian RossThe movement of individuals and their frequent encroachment on personal space in public settings (particularly those located in urban environments) poses unique challenges.
These encounters consist of numerous types of interactions, norms, and unwritten rules that people follow or engage in or with in a multitude of places.
These exchanges also lead to a complex dance among individuals exposed to these situations
In bustling cities like Tokyo, pedestrians like motorists, appear to adhere to a structured set of rules. However, the situation drastically changes in places like New York City, where crowded sidewalks can lead to a constant jockeying for safe unencumbered passage. Likewise, instances of people exiting retail stores without considering those on the sidewalk are common.
This nonchalant behavior extends to various urban settings, including street markets, and cultural and sports venues. Even in spaces like movie theaters and mass transportation systems (e.g., seat hogging, unwanted touching, loud conversations or media, etc.), the lack of awareness about personal space is evident, with individuals encroaching on the space of others. “Yo lady. Would you please stop pulling the back of my seat every time you get up from yours? “
Some of of these interactions are conscious or unconscious, contestations or negotiations over personal power, as if to say “who moves first”?
Undoubtedly, social and cultural factors come in to play when trying to understand peoples use of public space and perceptions of encroachment.
Identifying the “Space Invaders”
From young (often un or poorly supervised) children, to senior citizens, to individuals unaccustomed to constrictive urban conditions, there are numerous “space invaders.” They are oblivious to their immediate surroundings. The consequence of such behavior often leads to unease and conflict when personal space is perceived to being threatend. (Just look at the numerous social media posts of irate airplane passengers, if you don’t believe me.).
Further exploring the Problem:
Lack of awareness regarding other people’s personal space in public areas can not only lead to people feeling uncomfortable, but can escalate into physical confrontations. Heightening public consciousness about respecting personal space might be helpful to prevent these sorts of situations.
Proposed Solutions:
Despite the cries of infantilizing the public, one suggestion to lessen the frequency of this kind of invasion of public space might be to use or increase the use of signs directing pedestrians and patrons on where, and how to walk, stand, etc. Using signs to clearly demarcate pedestrian walkways, and directional flow is warranted. Beyond signage, jurisdictions could explore integrating new types of technology, urban planning initiatives, and community engagement efforts to provide a more holistic approach to the issue.
Moving on
The challenges posed by people encroaching on others personal space are undeniable. By understanding the nuances of different dynamics and addressing the issue of space invaders, we can contribute to creating more harmonious and respectful public spaces. Until then, this issue is simply one of several urban incivilities that people must deal with. This involves not only clear signage, but also a deeper exploration of cultural, social, and technological solutions to promote awareness and considerate behavior.
Photo Credit
Photographer Alex Proimos
Title: Pedestrians on a crosswalk in Buenos Aires
Would my eighth-grade typing teacher be proud of me now?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossWell, that assumes she’s still alive, cares about the quirks of her former students, and, frankly, remembers me at all.
Let me take you back a few decades. Grade eight typing class was one of my numerous academic struggles. My thirteen-year-old hands just wouldn’t cooperate with the commands my brain sent them. I can still picture the look of disdain on my typing teacher’s face as I sheepishly handed in my assignments.
I felt I was doomed to a life of hand-written notes, letters, and term papers, Fast forward ten years, and typing became a significant part of my daily routine.
Not surprisingly, this blog is one of the many activities that put those typing skills to good use.
Since starting the blog, at the end of each calendar year, I provide a list, links, and brief description of the most popular blog posts I wrote over the past 365 days.
And I see no reason now to break with tradition. So here they are:
My top recommended nonfiction books in the field of corrections in the United States
Every discipline has a number of foundational books, corrections is no different, and most experts studying jails, prisons, etc. have a list of their favorite works. Thus, I figured that the time was ripe to share mine more widely. Not only would I typically share this list with my graduate students, but I might give this list to give people I communicate with behind bars who are interested in this sort of thing. P.S. This post generated a handful of suggestions from other scholars.
Tyre Nichols and the reality of police reform in the United States
On January 7, 2023 Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old unarmed African-American man was stopped by Memphis police officers, who were part of the controversial SCORPION tactical squad, and beaten to death. This incident, like so many similar ones in recent years would have been quickly ignored, but the fact that this model of aggressive policing had, in recent years, been criticized because of its inability to produce results, the violence it engaged in, and legal suits raised not just moral and ethical questions, but called into question the way that contemporary policing was being conducted in some jurisdictions in the United States. It appeared that police were simply going through the motions, rarely test their actions, and that police are not strategic.
Some low hanging fruit is just rotten
Life, and more specifically careers and creative work are full of conscious and unconscious choices, and some are better than others. Creatives, entrepreneurs, etc. are often advised to choose projects that appear easy to accomplish. But equally important is the reality that the return on investment with these endeavors are sometimes not really worth the actual investment of resources (esp. time). The blog post attempts to explore the vicissitudes of this issue.
On the importance of Ted Robert Gurr’s WHY MEN REBEL
Since starting the blog, I have written a few posts about books and movies that I believe are interesting and pivotal. I thought it would be prudent to write one on one about the most important books that motivated me to pursue my masters degree. Not only did Why Men Rebel prompt me to consider and start graduate school, but I purposely sought out to work with Gurr, and can legitimately say that he was one of my first academic mentors. Not only is Why Men Rebel, a highly cited book, but it kicked off his career, and those of many scholars focusing on conflict studies.
Questioning Graffiti and Street Art as acts of resistance
Graffiti and Street Art are pervasive in most urban locations, and it appears as if almost everyone has an opinion on whether they like it and who and why they do it. But few people question their assumptions surrounding their opinions on this subject. One of the most significant opinions about graffiti and street art revolves around the meaning and purpose of this act of vandalism. This post tries to dissect the often romantic perspective that graffiti and street art are primarily acts of rebellion, protest or resistance. The reality is that there are lots of different types of graffiti and street and practitioners too, and to make broad sweeping generalizations about why people engage in this activity is foolhardy to say the least.
Should Criminologists partner with local criminal justice agencies to conduct research?
One of the recurrent questions prospective job candidates for academic jobs in Criminology/Criminal Justice and junior criminologists face is should they collaborate on research with or for a local criminal justice agency. This post explores both the advantages and disadvantages of this type of decision.
Does earning a degree in Criminology/Criminal Justice allow someone to get away with murder?
Another issue concerns using the information gleaned from formal instruction in the field of Criminology/Criminal Justice to assist one in malicious behavior. On December 30 2022, a graduate student in the doctoral program in Criminology at Washington State University, was charged with murder of four Idaho State University students. Not only do these types of sorts of stories titillate the public imagination, but frequenly force certain members of the public to ask just what people learn in the typical criminology/criminal justice curriculum.
Should aspiring Criminologists join the prominent learned societies in their field of study?
In trying to navigate the complicated nature of most trades and professions one of the questions is should you join a professional organization, which one is best, and what are the costs and benefits of doing so? This post applies this question to the subject area of Criminology/Criminal Justice.
Should You Earn a PhD in Criminology/Criminal Justice or an Allied Field?
Earning a Ph.D. is a resource intensive endeavor, but how do you make the best choice and minimize risk in choosing what to study and where?. Thus, one of the logical questions, particularly if you live in the part of the country, or a country where a PhD in Criminology/Criminal Justice does not exist, is what are the potential cost-benefit calculations you might confront if you decide to persue doctoral studies in an allied field?
Exploring how graffiti and street art calls attention to social justice issues
Similar to the post that looked at graffiti and street art as resistance, this one considered whether this type of vandalism is done to further social justice issues. The short answer is some of it is, and some of it does not. The post tries to identify the contexts where we see graffiti and street art more prominently throughout the urban landscape as a commentary on social justice issues.
Wrapping Up
In closing, I want to express my sincere gratitude to my family, friends, and colleagues who have generously provided constructive feedback on selected draft posts before publication. Heartfelt appreciation also goes out to all my readers, particularly those who have taken the time to respond, share suggestions, and contribute their valuable experiences related to the topics I’ve explored.
Your ongoing engagement and support have been instrumental in shaping the direction of this blog.
Thank you for being a vital part of this community, and here’s to another year of growth and shared experiences.
As I look ahead to 2024, I hope to maintain the same level of productivity and creativity as I did in 2023. I’m dedicated to delivering content that is compelling, thought-provoking, and occasionally evoke genuine moments of laughter throughout the journey.
Photo Credit
Photographer: Kiran Foster
Title: Typing