Kaden Paulson Smith

faculty

Kaden Paulson Smith, PhD they/them/theirs

Assistant Teaching Professor

Crime & Justice Studies

Curriculum Vitae

Contact

508-999-8700

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Liberal Arts 399B

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Education

2021University of Wisconsin, MadisonPhD in Political Science
2017University of Wisconsin, MadisonMA in Political Science
2014Smith CollegeBA in Government

Teaching

Programs

Teaching

Courses

An in-depth examination of the theoretical formulations, social movement contexts, and political praxes for the study of crime and justice. This will be pursued through a study of abolitionism across a variety of historical contexts and institutional and community settings in order to facilitate incisive critical thought on the most pressing social problems of our time.

Introduction to the American criminal justice system. The course will discuss the core components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Throughout the course, students will learn about the relationship between these components and the challenges that the criminal justice system currently faces.

Introduction to the American criminal justice system. The course will discuss the core components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Throughout the course, students will learn about the relationship between these components and the challenges that the criminal justice system currently faces.

Introduction to the American criminal justice system. The course will discuss the core components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Throughout the course, students will learn about the relationship between these components and the challenges that the criminal justice system currently faces.

Introduction to the American criminal justice system. The course will discuss the core components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Throughout the course, students will learn about the relationship between these components and the challenges that the criminal justice system currently faces.

Consideration of the problems surrounding the legal definition and handling of youth who confront the law as offenders, clients and victims. Attention is given to the development and behaviors of the child/adolescent population and to the most significant directions of legal and social change affecting youth in our society.

Directed readings and analysis in selected topics.

An in-depth examination of the theoretical formulations, social movement contexts, and political praxes for the study of crime and justice. This will be pursued through a study of abolitionism across a variety of historical contexts and institutional and community settings in order to facilitate incisive critical thought on the most pressing social problems of our time.

Selected topics of contemporary relevance in the field of Crime and Justice studies. Active discussions, mini-lectures, filed simulations, student presentations, role-playing, guest speakers, and field observations may be utilized. A significant research project will be required.

Topics will be determined by the faculty member and will therefore vary.

Teaching

Online and Continuing Education Courses

Introduction to the American criminal justice system. The course will discuss the core components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Throughout the course, students will learn about the relationship between these components and the challenges that the criminal justice system currently faces.
Register for this course.

Research

Research interests

  • Critical carceral studies
  • Law and society
  • African politics
  • Feminist and postcolonial studies

Select publications

See curriculum vitae for more publications

  • Kaden Paulson-Smith (Forthcoming).
    The Colonial Legacy of Policing as Statebuilding
    Cultural Pluralism, The State, and Gender Politics in Africa: The Intellectual Legacies of M. Crawford Young, Edited by Scott Straus and Aili Tripp
  • Kaden Paulson-Smith, David Nehlsen, Jacob Lau, Jared Knutson, Jake Wesner, Mackenzie Klug, Gage Beck, Brady Reinhard, and Aaron Weinschenk (2023).
    The Politics of Words: A Survey Experiment on "Defund the Police"
    The Social Science Journal
  • Kaden Paulson-Smith (2022).
    "Police Fire on Rioters": Everyday Counterinsurgency in a Colonial Capital
    Small Wars & Insurgencies
  • Kaden Paulson-Smith and Aili Tripp (2021).
    Women's Rights and Critical Junctures in Constitutional Reform in Africa (1951-2019)
    African Affairs

Kaden Paulson-Smith is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Crime & Justice Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Their research and teaching crosscut critical carceral studies, law and society, African politics, and feminist and postcolonial studies. Kaden’s current book project reframes contemporary policing as a colonial legacy in East Africa. Before joining UMass Dartmouth, Kaden was an Assistant Professor of Democracy & Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. Kaden received a PhD in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a BA in Government from Smith College.

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