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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.
Recognizing Canada’s Prisoners’ Justice Day & United States’ Black August
/by Jeffrey Ian RossCorrectional facilities have four main objectives: ensuring community safety, deterring crime, rehabilitating inmates, and punishing those sentenced to incarceration. Although jails and prisons are not intended to be comfortable, they must respect universally accepted standards of humane treatment. Incarceration should neither be life-threatening nor life-ending for inmates. Meanwhile, globally, prisons face numerous challenges, including overcrowding, […]
Bars with Character and Characters
/by Jeffrey Ian RossWhen I think of a bar with character, I imagine a venue that is more than just a place to grab a drink. It is usually a venue steeped in history, sometimes filled with eclectic décor, and buzzing with the energy of its clientele, servers, and occasional performers. But what does it really mean for […]
A Few Things I’ve Learned About Photographing Graffiti and Street Art
/by Jeffrey Ian RossI’ve spent a considerable amount of time photographing graffiti and street art. My primary purpose is to document what I see, use it for future study or reference, and then selectively post it on my Instagram account. During this process, I’ve learned a few things that might be helpful to others engaged in this kind […]