James E Sutton

James E Sutton is Professor of Sociology and former Chair of the Sociology Department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), where he has been a permanent faculty member since 2012 after an earlier visiting appointment (2006–2007). He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from Ohio State University and a B.A. from California State University, Long Beach. His academic work centers on criminology, victimization, deviance, and prison studies, with a strong commitment to experiential learning and community engagement.

• Ph.D., Sociology – Ohio State University
• M.A., Sociology – Ohio State University
• B.A., Sociology – California State University, Long Beach
• A.A., Long Beach City College

Sutton's research explores the social circumstances surrounding crime and justice, with recurring themes including interpersonal violence, vulnerable populations, crimes of the powerful, and the sociology of policing and prisons. He has published in leading journals such as Journal of Criminal Justice, Punishment & Society, and Deviant Behavior. His current book project examines the experiences of individuals who have lost loved ones to homicide. He is trained in Inside-Out prison education and has fostered partnerships with correctional facilities, law enforcement, and advocacy groups.

His recent scholarly output spans qualitative prison ethnography, gang dynamics, methodological innovations like life events calendars, and pedagogical approaches to teaching criminology in liberal arts colleges. The articles reflect a deep engagement with both theoretical and applied aspects of criminal justice, emphasizing ethical research, structural inequality, and the human impact of crime and punishment.

Professional Affiliations and Recognition:

• Lifetime Member, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
• Member, American Society of Criminology

Sutton has supervised numerous student internships, independent studies, and honors projects, and has organized over 50 prison field trips for approximately 700 students. He has brought high-profile speakers to campus, including exonerees and criminal justice reform advocates. He has also completed specialized training in homicide investigation with the New York State Police and holds multiple gang specialist certifications. His leadership roles include serving as Chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Sociology Department.

Sutton is recognized as one of the few criminologists working in a top-tier liberal arts college, where he actively innovates in curriculum development and prison education programming.