Farewell and Thank You, Interrupting Criminalization

Interrupting Criminalization: Research in Action is an initiative led by researchers Mariame Kaba and Andrea J. Ritchie. The project aims to interrupt and end the growing criminalization and incarceration of women and LGBTQ people of color for criminalized acts related to public order, poverty, child welfare, drug use, survival and self-defense. The project pays special attention to the criminalization and incarceration of survivors of violence, seeking alternatives to incarceration and a reimagined horizon of safety.

The Barnard Center for Research on Women had the honor of hosting Interrupting Criminalization from the project’s co-founding by Ritchie and Kaba during their terms as Researchers-in-Residence until the end of 2021. Interrupting Criminalization is now a thriving and stand-alone organization. We are excited for future collaborations with the project, and extend many congratulations to Ritchie and Kaba for the success and growth of their work.

We encourage you to check out some of the projects and convenings they completed while affiliated with BCRW, including the conference Invisible No More: Resisting Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color in Troubled Times in 2017, the “Building Accountable Communities” video series, and an issue of The Scholar and Feminist Online guest edited by Andrea J. Ritchie and Levi Craske, “Unraveling Criminalizing Webs: Dreaming Police Free Futures,” published in 2019.

Most importantly, please follow their work. On their website you will find a plethora of resources, events, and ways to take action in your community.