Katheryn Russell-Brown

Professor Katheryn Russell-Brown is the Elmer V.H. and Eileen M. Brooks Trustee Professor of Crime, Law, and Justice, jointly appointed in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) and the School of Law at Northeastern University. Professor Russell-Brown also serves as co-director of the Race and Justice Lab with the Center on Crime, Race and Justice. Her work with SCCJ centers on advancing research and education on the intersections of race, crime, and justice. Professor Russell-Brown’s research focuses on racial dynamics within the criminal justice system, including the sociology of law, policing, and systemic inequalities. Her work introduces critical concepts like “Racial Hoax” and “Black Protectionism,” shaping the academic discourse on race and crime. Her latest publication, The Color of Crime (3rd ed., 2021), offers a comprehensive analysis of these intersections and remains a cornerstone text in criminology. In addition to her scholarly contributions, she is the author of several celebrated children’s books, including Justice Rising: 12 Amazing Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement (2023) and She Was the First! The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm (2020), which received an NAACP Image Award.

Professor Russell-Brown’s contributions to the field have been widely recognized, including her election as President of the American Society of Criminology for the 2024-2025 term and her receipt of the Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Her research was also cited in the U.S. Supreme Court case Harris v. Alabama (1995), highlighting its profound impact on law and policy.