Institute on Race and Justice Archives

Jack McDevitt, Professor of the Practice and Director of the Institute on Race and Justice School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, poses for a portrait on Wednesday June 22, 2022.

Researcher and mediator Jack McDevitt retires after 45 years at Northeastern

McDevitt has made a career of taking on the contentious issues of American life, including hate crimes, criminal justice reform and gun control. How many lives have been saved by his work?

by Ian Thomsen June 24, 2022

This photo combo shows, from left, Travis McMichael, William

Despite conviction of Ahmaud Arbery’s killers, hate crimes are seldom prosecuted

Although experts viewed the case as a “slam dunk,” hate-crimes prosecutions are rare because of how difficult it is to prove motivation, Northeastern experts say.

by Tanner Stening February 22, 2022

Students walks through a patch of light outside of Snell Library.

A new guide helps schools deal with hate crimes

One in five Massachusetts hate crimes takes place at an educational institution. Northeastern professors Jack McDevitt and Carlos Cuevas assembled a resource guide to help Massachusetts schools prevent and respond to these traumatic incidents.

by Ian Thomsen November 30, 2021

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Ring in the summer semester with these virtual events

Learn about the sustainability of cycling. Hear from trailblazing Northeastern graduates. Ponder the future of nursing. These events and more are on tap for May.

by Alison Booth April 30, 2021

Philonise Floyd, Attorney Ben Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton courtroom celebrate Chauvin verdict.

Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict is a step toward justice and police reform–but it’s not the end of racism in the US

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck until he died, was found guilty of all three counts related to Floyd’s murder on Tuesday, in a case that “bucks up against 200 years of history in a way that is enormously refreshing but also deeply informative,” said Margaret Burnham, university distinguished professor of law at Northeastern.

by Molly Callahan April 20, 2021

Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Close out the semester with these virtual events

Examine the comparative history of post-slavery liberation. Pitch an entrepreneurial idea. Discuss the role of design in creating equitable infrastructure. These events and more are on the schedule for the end of April.

by Alison Booth April 16, 2021

People protest against a recent uptick in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans in New York's Manhattan on Feb. 27, 2021. AP photo by Kyodo

As feared, hate crimes targeting Asian Americans rose sharply during the pandemic

“It’s very serious, and we knew it was coming,” says Jack McDevitt, director of the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern. He and Carlos Cuevas, co-director of the Violence and Justice Research Lab, explain the causes—and what people can do about it.

by Ian Thomsen March 2, 2021

Don’t miss out on these March events

Chat about inclusivity in the tech world. Reflect on contemporary democracy. Analyze the pandemic’s impact on minority communities. These events and more are on the schedule to kick off March.

by Alison Booth March 1, 2021

Check out these events to close out February

Tune into the Engineers Week speaker series. Celebrate Black faculty and staff. Examine modern social media strategies. These events and more are on tap for the second half of February.

by Alison Booth February 17, 2021

People attend the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 2020, in Washington, on the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s

Why this year’s MLK tributes take on a new sense of urgency

Observances of Martin Luther King Day at Northeastern and around the country are the first since George Floyd’s death ignited calls for policing reforms, says the director of Northeastern’s Institute on Race and Justice. The nation’s political and racial upheaval underscores the need for meaningful change as much now as in the heyday of the civil rights movement.

by Peter Ramjug January 18, 2021

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