Administrators of Japanese internment camps during World War II claimed that the purpose of the camps was assimilation and incorporation into American society, not surveillance or punishment. To achieve this goal, administrators conducted a series of social science experiments targeting internees. Sociologist Sunmin Kim will explore how Japanese American internees experienced the camps and how these social science experiments impacted their experiences. He will analyze administrative records, correspondence, and social scientific reports from the internment camps for his study.

This grant is co-funded with the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

This grant is co-funded with the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

While incarceration rates in the United States have declined over the last 15 years, recidivism remains high, with a large percentage of those released from prison being rearrested within a few years. Employment is often considered an important part of successful community reentry, but ex-offenders occupy a particularly disadvantaged position in the labor market. Sociologists Adam Reich and Erin Jacobs Valentine will examine the impact of union pre-apprenticeships for the formerly incarcerated on reentry outcomes, such as employment, earnings, and recidivism.

Recent research has shown that incarceration is detrimental for credit and financial wellbeing. Research has also shown that expanded Medicaid access for recently released, formerly incarcerated individuals is beneficial for employment, healthcare use, and avoiding reincarceration. However, no research has directly examined whether healthcare access may be a channel for promoting improved financial wellbeing and credit outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.

Historically, rural western Massachusetts has not received large numbers of non-European migrants. However, in recent years, an increasing number of migrants have begun settling in the area. Sociologist Phi Su will explore how advocates help new immigrants resettle in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. She will conduct participant observation and interviews for her study.

In 2023, the Supreme Court banned the use of race-conscious admissions policies in higher education. However, colleges and universities are permitted to consider discussions of how race has impacted an applicant’s life in their college essay. Sociologist Sarah Iverson will examine how college applicants write about race in their college admissions essays and how college preparatory programs advise students to write about race.