Bert Useem

Bert Useem is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Purdue University. He specializes in law and society, social movements, political sociology, and criminology.

• Ph.D. from Brandeis University (1980)
• Research focuses on prison riots, prison system dynamics, and social movements
• Author of two books on prison riots and a recent book on the prison buildup's societal impacts

His collaborative work with Jack Goldstone in American Journal of Sociology and American Sociological Review examines prison riots through the lens of revolutionary theory. This comparative approach highlights structural parallels between mass incarceration and historical upheavals.

Current research explores:

• Prison system stability and governance
• Crime rate correlations with correctional policies
• Social movement dynamics in policy resistance and advocacy