Naomi Murakawa

Naomi Murakawa is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the reproduction of racial inequality in American politics, particularly in the realms of crime policy and the carceral state.

Her scholarly work bridges political science, critical race theory, and legal studies. Key areas of interest include mass incarceration, racial liberalism, the historical development of crime control, and the paradoxes of reform within the criminal justice system.

Her research, reflected in publications such as The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America and numerous journal articles, reveals how ostensibly progressive policies have contributed to the expansion of the prison system. Themes across her work include the racialized foundations of state power, the limitations of liberal reform, and the structural persistence of racial inequality in law and governance.

Scientific Awards and Fellowships:

• Fellowship from Columbia Law School’s Center for the Study of Law and Culture
• Fellowship from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Program

Professor Murakawa has advised graduate students and contributed to major scholarly and public conversations on race and justice. Her work has been supported by significant research grants and fellowships, enabling deep historical and theoretical analysis of the American carceral state. She is a leading voice in interdisciplinary debates on decarceration, abolition, and transformative justice.

She is affiliated with research initiatives focused on race, law, and inequality, contributing to collaborative teams examining the intersections of policy, history, and social movements. Her ongoing scholarship continues to challenge conventional narratives about crime, punishment, and racial progress in the United States.