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Susan Sered, PhD

One sociologist's thoughts on women’s health, mass incarceration, and other issues of the day

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Can’t Catch a Break

August 21, 2024August 21, 2024 Susan Sered

Rest in Peace, Darlene

“The tough-looking blonde over there,” is how Darlene was described to us nearly fifteen years ago when we launched our ongoing project with formerly incarcerated […]

May 15, 2024May 15, 2024 Susan Sered

Francesca’s New Home

For more on Francesca see The Bitch at the Welfare Office.  Francesca Gets the Keys “I’m getting the keys to my place tomorrow,” Francesca texted, decorating […]

January 24, 2023January 24, 2023 Susan Sered

Daisy: Aging on the Margins

Nearly fifteen years ago my colleague, Maureen Norton-Hawk, and I began meeting with women recently released from prison in Massachusetts. our goal was to learn […]

January 17, 2023 Susan Sered

“I Don’t Forget Where I Came From”: Remembering Mikki

The first time I met Mikki [a pseudonym] she was fresh out of prison. I invited her to be part of study of formerly incarcerated […]

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022 Susan Sered

Beyond Collateral Damage: How Incarcerating Men Harms Women

This post is a shortened version of a paper written together with Steven Murnane and other members of the Women and Incarceration Project at Suffolk […]

December 30, 2021December 30, 2021 Susan Sered

Eulogy for Laureen

Laureen was not an easy-going person. From a young age she struggled with agoraphobia and other mental health challenges. As an adult she managed to […]

September 13, 2021November 29, 2022 Susan Sered

Women, Incarceration, and Violent Crime

This post is a summary of the report Women, Incarceration, and Violent Crime in Massachusetts by Rebecca Stone, Susan Sered, Cherry Russell and members of […]

February 22, 2021September 15, 2024 Susan Sered

The Knock-out Punch: Eulogy for Joy

Over the past fifteen years I’ve second-guessed our choice of the pseudonym “Joy.” We first met when she joined my ongoing research project with Massachusetts […]

September 13, 2020February 1, 2021 Susan Sered

Beyond Recidivism and Desistance

This post is part 3 of a 3 part series. Part 1: Recidivism: Is It a Real Thing? Part 2: Desistance from Crime: Is It […]

August 31, 2020February 1, 2021 Susan Sered

Desistance from Crime: Is It a Real Thing?

This post is is the 2nd in a 3 part series: Part 1: Recidivism: Is It a Real Thing? Part 3: Beyond Recidivism and Desistance […]

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Latest Posts

  • Unwarranted Restrictions, Gratuitous Harm—Women and Prison Security Classification in Massachusetts
  • Rest in Peace, Darlene
  • Therapeutic Jails? An Oxymoron
  • Best Books About Mental Health, Drug Use, Trauma, and Crime

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© Susan Sered, PhD 2025