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Melissa Burch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. Her research predominantly revolves around the themes of criminalization and stigma associated with criminal records in the United States. Burch focuses on social inequalities that emerge from the processes of criminalization and the navigational strategies individuals employ to resist stigma. She authored the forthcoming book "Criminal Record Complex: Risk, Race, Struggle Work in America," which examines the policies and economic incentives influencing the use of criminal background checks in employment. Additionally, she engages with the community through projects like the Afterlives of Conviction Project, aiming to bridge academic insights with practical applications for organizers and policymakers in addressing the lived realities of those with criminal records. Her recent publications cover topics such as racial criminalization and the implications of risk politics in various contexts, contributing to the academic discourse on labor markets and urban ethnography.
University of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI
Teaching and researching issues related to criminalization and the social implications of criminal records.
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science