Alice Goffman
Sociologist | Investigating Police Brutality and Criminal Justice
About
Alice Goffman is a sociologist known for her groundbreaking work on policing and mass incarceration in the United States. As a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she embedded herself in a Philadelphia neighborhood for six years, chronicling the experiences of young Black men targeted by aggressive law enforcement.
Her book, 'On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City', provided an intimate and harrowing look at the effects of over-policing on marginalized communities. Goffman's research and advocacy have elevated critical conversations around systemic racism, criminal justice reform, and the human costs of mass incarceration.
Talks1
How we're priming some kids for college — and others for prison
In the United States, two institutions guide teenagers on the journey to adulthood: college and prison. Sociologist Alice Goffman spent six years in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood and saw first-hand how teenagers of African-American and Latino backgrounds are funneled down the path to prison — sometimes starting with relatively minor infractions. In an impassioned talk she asks, "Why are we offering only handcuffs and jail time?"
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