Public Sociology: In the Media

My Profiles with Professional Organizations:

Scholars Strategy Network

University of Washington, CSDE

Fines Fees Justice Center

Op Eds I have Authored:

“Daunte Wright and the Grim Financial Incentive behind Traffic Stops: How pretext traffic stops fund police departments – and put Black drivers in danger.” Vox, April 15th, 2021. Op Ed written by Alexes Harris.

“Fines and Fees are a Pound of Flesh for Poor People.” Seattle Times, February 25th, 2021. Op Ed written by Alexes Harris.

“Our Double Pandemic Does Not Need More Fines.” Newsweek Magazine, July 20, 2020. Op Ed written by Alexes Harris.

“Companies Can Keep Their Hollow Statements on Racism: We need Real Change.” Newsweek Magazine, June 17th, 2020. Op Ed written by Alexes Harris.

“Justice Shouldn’t Come with a $250 Fine.”  New York Times.  Op Ed written by Alexes Harris. Thursday, January 4^th, 2018. 

“The Cost of Criminalizing Poverty” USA Today, Alexes Harris (Op-Ed), 2016.

“Yes, America, we have returned to debtor’s prisons.”  Los Angeles Times Op Ed.  Author. Sunday, June 8^th, 2014.

“The Cruel Poverty of Monetary Sanctions.”  March 4^th, 2014.  Authored article.  The Society Pages.

Media Quotes/Interviews

• “Facing Race” King5 News, Interview Discussion
• New York Times, Nicholas Kristof
• The Atlantic, Juleyka Lantigua-Williams
• The Atlantic, Matt Ford and Rosa Inocencio Smith
• Bloomberg, Peter Coy
• Crime Report
• WNYC’s The Takeaway
• Bloomberg BNA, Jessica DaSilva

“Criminal justice not served by punishing the poor.”  Seattle Times. Quoted in Seattle Times editorial board opinion.  October 13^th, 2015.  http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/criminal-justice-not-served-by-punishing-the-poor/

 “Costly prison fees are putting inmates deep in debt.”  CNN Money.  September 18^th, 2015.  Quoted. http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/18/news/economy/prison-fees-inmates-debt/index.html

Stephen Colbert, “The Word: Debt or Prison.”  Thursday, June 12^th, 2014

Huffing Post Live Interview about monetary sanctions in the United States. June 4^th, 2014.

National Public Radio Series on monetary sanctions – consulted via telephone calls and emails, and formal interview with the lead investigative reporter.

• “As Court Fees Rise, The Poor are Paying the Price” May 19, 2014
• “Supreme Court Ruling Not Enough to Prevent Debtors Prisons” May 21, 2014
• “Court Fees Drive Many Poor Defendants Underground.” May 21, 2014

New York Times Editorial Board, “Pay Up or Go to Jail”, Wednesday, May 21^st, 2014 interviewed with NYT editorial board member about my research for this story.

“Higher Court Fines Imposed on Latinos in Washington State.” April 6, 2011 NPR interview.

“The Assessment and Consequences of Legal Financial Obligations in Washington State.”  Beckett, K, Harris, A., Evans, H.  2008.  Report prepared for the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission.  Included as evidence on behalf of the petitioner in State v. Nason, 165 Wn.2d 1041, 205 P.3d 132, 2009 Wash.

“Cleaning Up:  How do you solve a problem like Bell Town?”  May 12, 2009.  The Stranger.

“Report says state crisis to worsen, hit minorities harder.”  March 9, 2009.  Seattle Real Estate News.

“Our Subprime Time is Coming.”  March 10^th, 2009.  Seattle Weekly.

“State courts unfair to men, minorities, UW study alleges.”  February 25^th, 2009.  The Seattle Times.

“Mayor takes ax to council’s ‘babies’.”  October 27, 2008.  The Seattle PI.

“Moneytree CEO Wants You to Rethink his Business.”  March 11, 2008.  Laura Onstot.  The Seattle Weekly.

“Diverse New Holly still struggling to break down the cultural divide:  Vision for community misses the mark for many youths.”  May 12, 2008.  The Seattle PI.