Issa Kohler-Hausmann

About the Author

Issa Kohler-Hausmann is a distinguished scholar and author whose work illuminates the intricacies of the criminal justice system and its profound societal impacts. A professor of law and sociology at Yale University, she draws on extensive research and firsthand observations to dissect how low-level offenses perpetuate cycles of inequality and social control. In her seminal book, Misdemeanorland: Criminal Courts and Social Control in an Age of Broken Windows Policing, Kohler-Hausmann exposes the hidden machinery of misdemeanor courts, revealing how they function as tools of surveillance and punishment in urban America. Her incisive analysis challenges conventional narratives about crime and justice, advocating for reforms that address systemic biases. With a background in legal practice and academia, Kohler-Hausmann continues to influence policy debates and scholarly discourse on race, class, and the law.