Dr. Jason Williams is an Associate Professor of Justice Studies at Montclair University and a passionate activist criminologist deeply concerned about racial and gender disparity and mistreatment within the criminal legal system. He is an NJ native—raised by his grandmother in a housing project, which ultimately led him to pursue a doctorate in the administration of justice from Texas Southern University. Aside from publishing in the academic arena, his perspectives are also posted on several public outlets, including The Hampton Institution, Truthout, and NJ.com (among others). He’s been quoted by many local and national presses such as North Jersey Media Group, NJ.com, NJ Spotlight News, USA Today, Newsweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, San Francisco Chronicle, Sun-Sentinel (among others) on issues concerning criminal and social justice. He has conducted ethnographic research in Baltimore MD and Ferguson, MO, following the police-involved tragedies of Freddie Gray and Michael Brown. He has also conducted research on people returning home from prison and the multidimensional problems they face such as finding work, connecting with their families and children, and the gendered nature of their journey home. He has expertise in community-based justice, organizing, and restorative justice. He is well versed in urban politics as they relate to social justice matters and marginalized populations. Lastly, he recently published a co-edited book, Black Males and the Criminal Justice System. He has been awarded by the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for his research. Lastly, he was awarded a Proclamation from the Passaic County Board of County Commissioners for the educational value of his work within the community.
