Latest Blog Posts
About
Criminologist, Scholar, & Consultant
Jeffrey Ian Ross, Ph.D., is a criminologist at the University of Baltimore and co-founder of Convict Criminology. His approach is shaped by nearly a decade of work before entering academia, as a courier, cab driver, corrections worker, and union shop steward. It is further grounded in three decades of visiting correctional facilities across North America, Europe, and South America, researching the conditions inside them, and having conversations with convicts and correctional officers and administrators. It also draws on interviews with formerly incarcerated people outside those facilities, and on ethnographic fieldwork on street culture and on graffiti and street art internationally. Ross has published more than thirty 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.
Consider getting out of your lane
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIn most Western Advanced Industrialized countries, the prevailing advice for securing a comfortable income and satisfying career is pretty straightforward: not only should you specialize in a well-paying high demand profession, but excel in your job. Although there are multiple paths to achieve this state of affairs, it typically means graduating from a respected school, […]
Should aspiring Criminologists join the prominent learned societies in their field of study?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossWhether it’s the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, the Sunday church choir, or a pickup basketball game, many individuals enjoy participating in both formal and informal groups and organizations. Being part of an entity can offer numerous direct and indirect benefits, including, but not limited to, a sense of affiliation, camaraderie, and personal meaning. Organizations […]
The constant tension between amateurs and experts
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIn our complex world, a subtle but persistent conflict often exists between amateurs and experts, each vying for recognition and authority. Understanding the Distinction Amateurs (sometimes called novices or dilettantes) and experts (occasionally mistakenly referred to as professionals) create things or offer and engage in services (e.g., advice, consulting, etc.). But they differ on several […]