Amanda Geller
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About Amanda
Geller’s research sits at the intersection of criminal justice and social inequality, focusing specifically on the role of incarceration in families, and interactions between police and the public in urban communities. Her work is based largely on quantitative analysis of data from large surveys and administrative databases. In addition to her academic publications, she has presented findings from her research in testimony to the City Council of New York City, and at a White House workshop on parental incarceration.
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Analyzes publicly available data in 2015 vehicle stops and 2014 use of force incidents on the part of the Austin Police Department. Indicates that even when controlling for neighborhood levels of crime, education, homeownership, income, youth, and unemployment, racial disparities still exist in both use and severity of force. Demonstrates APD's high level of transparency and the value of that democratization of police department data in examining whether community-level explanations are sufficient to explain observed racial disparities.
Shows that most incarcerated fathers maintained a degree of contact with their children, either through coresidence or visitation. Finds reductions in father-child coresidence and visitation when fathers are incarcerated, driven both by incapacitation while incarcerated and union dissolution upon release.
Matches data from a large family survey to administrative criminal history records to examine underreporting of incarceration and the implications of this underreporting for our understanding the dynamics of families with incarcerated fathers.
Finds significant increases in behavior problems, most notably in aggressive behavior, among young children following their fathers’ incarceration.
Presents data from a survey of young men in New York City that shows elevated rates of anxiety and trauma among those reporting more and more invasive experiences being stopped by the police.