Reyna Hernandez

Reyna Hernandez is a Research Fellow at the American Bar Foundation and a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Chicago. She holds a BA in Criminology from the University of Texas at Dallas and advanced degrees in Social Sciences (MA) and Sociology (M.A.) from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on wrongful convictions, legal consciousness, and the social implications of incarceration, particularly the bureaucratic processes affecting exonerees' reentry and compensation.

Her work employs ethnographic methods to examine how freed and exonerated individuals navigate post-incarceration support systems and statutory compensation mechanisms in Illinois. Key themes include the intersection of law, social inequality, and organizational structures shaping reentry experiences. Recent publications include a 2023 article in Law & Social Inquiry exploring legal consciousness among wrongfully convicted individuals.

Her dissertation committee includes experts such as Kimberly Hoang (Chair) and Robert Vargas, reflecting interdisciplinary collaboration in sociology and law. Current research emphasizes how well-intentioned policies perpetuate systemic inequities during reentry.