I know there's a lot happening at the federal level, but we need to pay attention to state-level returns to punitive sentencing. Most people are incarcerated in state, not federal, prisons. Meaning state policies have the biggest impact on incarceration

While research on surveillance often focuses on crime reduction & deterrence, we show its unintended consequences, how it transforms gang dynamics & status-seeking behaviors. Feel free to inbox me if you need a copy!

We call this “the status of the surveilled.” Increased scrutiny doesn’t always deter gangs, instead, it reshapes their interaction rituals and reinforces their presence.

Even loitering on a street corner takes on new meaning: it’s not just being there, it’s surviving the risk of being watched, stopped, or arrested. Surveillance elevates status, for both individuals and the gang itself.

Unlike past research, which focuses on how hyper-surveillance pushes people away from crime, we find that police surveillance itself becomes a status symbol. Visibility under scrutiny signals resilience, defiance, and gang credibility.

These threats & displays are often performative, but the ritual itself tells us something important: it reflects how gang status has evolved over time in response to external forces, including police surveillance and enhanced policing.

Using Chicago as a case study, we analyzed archived media (cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs) documenting Latino gang interactions from 1996 to 2012. These recordings capture gang members repping their sets, disrespecting rivals, and performing status rituals.

Thanks for making the list! Can I be added also?