Department of Sociology

Oregon has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of any drug, and there’s a push in Washington to do the same. But what effect will that really have on arrests, prosecution and the War on Drugs? Temper your expectations, says Katherine Beckett, professor of sociology and of law, societies and justice at the UW. [This is the third segment of the Dec. 15 episode of “The Record.”]

Katherine Beckett, Professor of sociology and law, societies and justice, explains Oregon's decriminalization of drugs, and whether Washington will be next.

New research from the University of Washington shows that for Black youth, having an encounter with police in middle school means a higher likelihood of being arrested by age 20. Annie McGlynn-Wright, who led the study while a doctoral student in sociology at the UW, is quoted.

Some couples have found a way not only to survive but get closer despite all the stresses of this year’s many challenges. Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology at the UW, is quoted.

Black youth are more likely to face a tough criminal justice path than white youth after being stopped by police in middle school, a new study out of University of Washington found. Annie McGlynn-Wright, who led the study while a doctoral student in sociology at the UW, is interviewed.

Harlequin Productions is offering a radio theater-style “A Christmas Carol,” adapted by Orson Welles, available for streaming beginning Sunday, Dec. 6. Antonio Mitchell, who is pursuing a master of fine arts in acting at the UW, is playing Jacob Marley.

A newly released study by the University of Washington shows how being stopped by police in middle school can lead to different criminal-justice paths, based on race. The study, conducted over a period of years, found that Black youth are more likely than white youth to be treated as “usual suspects” after a first encounter with police, leading to more subsequent arrests over time. Kevin Haggerty, professor of social work at the UW; Robert Crutchfield, professor emeritus of sociology at the UW; and Annie McGlynn-Wright, who led the study while a doctoral student in sociology at the UW, are mentioned.

Once in a decade, America comes together to count every person in every home on every block in every neighborhood, coast to coast. In theory. Politics and a pandemic have made this year’s count extra fraught, says Sara Curran, director of the UW’s Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology and professor of international studies, of sociology and of public policy and governance. [This is the second segment in the Dec. 2 episode of the “The Record.”]

Annie McGlynn-Wright, sociology PhD graduate, explains the results of a new study she worked on exploring the consequences of early interactions between police and Black youth.

Retiring from the UW doesn’t end the story for faculty and staff. They are driven to serve their communities on a local or global scale.

ENGL 285, a unique creative writing class that features the expertise of professional writers, is highly recommended by its students.

Researchers have found that a small group of social media accounts are responsible for the spread of a disproportionate amount of the false posts about voter fraud. Ian Kennedy, a doctoral student in sociology at the UW, is quoted.

The 2020 census has been subject to court fights, shifting deadlines and pandemic-related process adjustments. Sara Curran, director of the UW Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, explains the developments with this year’s count.

In this lecture and follow-up conversation, distinguished teaching awardee and Professor of sociology Alexes Harris shares her research into how people’s interactions with institutions — like the criminal justice system — shape the outcomes of people’s lives. She delves into how those outcomes are different based on a person’s race and ethnicity, gender, income bracket and other identities people hold. Harris also talks about being born and raised in Seattle and how she got to be able to share her research with policy makers, legislators, judges and community members so her scholarship can contribute to a more equitable criminal justice system.

A proposal introduced during Seattle City Council’s budget deliberations would allow judges and juries the option to dismiss misdemeanor crimes that were committed because of poverty or while a person was experiencing symptoms of a mental illness or substance-use disorder. Katherine Beckett, professor of sociology and of law, societies and justice, and Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW, are quoted.