Over the past few weeks, there have been growing questions and conversations about the future of policing in the United States. Today, we add to the discussion about what it means to reimagine policing by welcoming Philip McHarris, an activist, a writer, and a PhD Candidate in Sociology and African American Studies at Yale University. We begin the interview by discussing his journey to the academy (37:55); his research on safety, place, and policing in Brooklyn (40:50); and how he navigated ethnographic research on policing as a Black man (42:55). We then have a conversation about the relationship between policing and safety (52:30), how individuals in public housing communities adapt to heightened police presence (56:20), the pitfalls of community policing (59:45), and alternatives to policing (1:05:20). We also discuss the criminal justice policy positions of Democratic politicians (1:11:35) and how we should think about and evaluate politicians who supported and voted for the 1994 crime bill (1:15:20). We close the interview by having a conversation about the importance of public engagement among academics as well as possible avenues to facilitate change beyond the ivory tower (1:19:19). 

Other Topics Include: 

00:30 - Catch up with Ty and Daphne 

06:18 - Most Dangerous Person of the Week

09:37 - BhD “Oh Lawd” News

33:55 - Introduction of the Topic 

48:42 - Advising Relationships in the Academia

1:29:38 - Ty and Daphne reflect on the interview 

Resources 

• Philip V. McHarris Website  - https://philipvmcharris.com