Christopher Dum, PhD

Chris is a social warrior, practicing what he preaches. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Kent State University.

I’ve recorded Chris with his band Wednesday Demonstration. They perform protest songs about social justice. He provides lead vocals, and guitar.

From his profile on the Kent State University site:

As a scholar/activist/ethnographer, my research focuses on the intersection between the criminal justice system, public policy, and inequality. Specifically, I am interested in how incarceration affect individuals and society, how the public perceives those with incarceration histories, and the effects of sex offense policy.

In my book, Exiled in America: Life on the Margins in a Residential Motel, (Columbia University Press) I draw upon a year of ethnographic fieldwork at a residential motel to explore how residents experiencing homelessness go about their lives in the context of social policy and stigma that pushes them to the margins of society.

My current projects involved a qualitative study of families who are relocating to be closer to incarcerated loved ones, and well as quantitative public opinion studies looking at how stigma against formerly incarcerated individuals can reduced.

I am the co-founder of the ID13 Prison Literacy Project, which aims to amplify the creative voice of incarcerated individuals. More information can be found at: http://www.id13project.com