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About
Criminologist, Scholar, & Consultant
Jeffrey Ian Ross, Ph.D., is a criminologist at the University of Baltimore and co-founder of Convict Criminology. He brings an insider’s perspective to his work, shaped by his experience as a former courier, taxi driver, corrections worker, and union shop steward. This approach has also benefited from numerous visits to correctional facilities across North America, Europe, and South America, and firsthand research on street culture, and graffiti and street art internationally. Ross has published 30+ books and shares his expertise on corrections, policing, political crime, street culture, and graffiti and street art through scholarship, public writing, speaking, media commentary, and consulting.
The Death of Democracy in America Is Boring
/by Jeffrey Ian RossSince President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention has witnessed constant assaults on personal liberties and the Constitution. What I want to argue is more unsettling: what we’ve seen over the past months is not only distressing, but boring, and that’s the real danger. Nearly every day […]
What’s my favorite Japanese dish to prepare?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossWhen I tell people I enjoy cooking Japanese food (@_gaijinchef), they often ask me which dish I enjoy making the most. Although it’s a natural question, I find it difficult to provide a straightforward answer. There are two main reasons why. First, I specialize in cooking Washoku (i.e., traditional Japanese cuisine characterized by seasonal ingredients, balance, […]
Do Blues Musicians Really Need to Suffer to Be Great?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossThere’s a long-held belief that great art requires suffering. One genre where this perception is especially prominent is blues music. Rooted in the African American experience, the blues is known for its emotional intensity, blue notes, and repeating chord structures, often conveying themes of physical, emotional, or psychological hardship. Given these origins, one might ask: […]