Laurence Ralph

Laurence Ralph is the William D. Zabel ’58 Professor of Human Rights, Professor of Anthropology and Public Affairs, and Co-Director of Princeton’s Center on Transnational Policing. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and a BS from Georgia Tech. His research focuses on urban anthropology, medical anthropology, police violence, disability, and race. Ralph’s work bridges academic scholarship and activism, addressing systemic issues like mass incarceration and racialized policing.

• Education: PhD (Anthropology, University of Chicago, 2010), BS (History, Technology & Society, Georgia Tech)

His research interests include the intersection of policing, race, and urban inequality. He has authored three influential books: Renegade Dreams (2014), The Torture Letters (2020), and Sito (2024), exploring themes of violence, human rights, and systemic failure. His animated film The Torture Letters won multiple awards.

Ralph’s awards include the C. Wright Mills Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, and membership in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He co-directs the Center on Transnational Policing, examining global policing practices. His recent work combines personal narrative with sociological analysis, as seen in Sito, which recounts the tragic death of a family member linked to gang violence and systemic failures.