Last Wednesday evening, Chris Uggen, a professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota, came to Carleton as a part of the Mass Incarceration Lecture series to discuss voter disenfranchisement in the United States. Uggen is the Distinguished McKnight Professor of sociology and law at the University of Minnesota, the Vice President Elect of the American Sociological Association, and a renowned expert and participant in public sociology. His work is frequently cited in popular media such as the New York Times, The Economist, and National Public Radio, and he offers his expertise in litigation and advocacy, playing a major role in shaping public opinion and policy on criminology in the US.
As a public sociologist, Uggen uses his research on felon disenfranchisement to make an impact on law-makers and public opinion, using investigative sociological research to advocate for a more just democracy and world. Uggen’s current research focuses on mass incarceration and its occupational, health, and political effects. He spoke in particular about the problems of disenfranchisement in Minnesota: despite the fact that Minnesota has the lowest incarceration rate in the US, it has the highest rate of racial disproportionality in conviction of felons. In order to understand this phenomena, Uggen uses both historical and contemporary research to collect and provide accurate and systematically-collected data to scholars, community leaders, and the general public.
If you are interested in sociological public scholarship and Uggen’s research, check out his book, Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy, which he coauthored with sociologist Jeff Manza. The book is available through the Gould Library Catalyst website.