Adam Dunbar | Justice Management – unr.edu

Report on the Research of Adam Dunbar

Introduction

Adam Dunbar, Ph.D., joined the Department of Criminal Justice in 2020. Dr. Dunbar holds a doctorate from the University of California, Irvine, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Delaware’s Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. His academic and research profile demonstrates a significant contribution to understanding and addressing critical societal challenges, particularly those outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Research Focus and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Dr. Dunbar’s research is situated at the intersection of race, public perception, and the criminal justice system. His work critically examines how attitudes concerning race, culture, and crime contribute to systemic disparities in policing and punishment. This focus aligns directly with several key SDGs aimed at fostering equitable, just, and inclusive societies.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

A primary objective of SDG 16 is to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” Dr. Dunbar’s research directly supports this goal by:

• Investigating the root causes of racial disparities within policing and judicial processes, thereby identifying barriers to equal access to justice.
• Analyzing public opinion and obstacles related to criminal justice reform, which is essential for building more effective and accountable institutions.
• Evaluating how perceptions of race influence support for police reform and funding for crime control policies, contributing to a more just and equitable application of the rule of law.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10 calls for reducing inequality within and among countries. Dr. Dunbar’s work addresses this by exploring the mechanisms of stereotyping and prejudice that perpetuate inequality within the criminal justice system. His research provides empirical evidence on how racial bias can manifest in policy preferences and institutional practices, highlighting critical areas for intervention to ensure the social and political inclusion of all, irrespective of race or ethnicity.

Key Research Publications

Dr. Dunbar’s findings have been disseminated through numerous high-impact publications, contributing to the global knowledge base required to achieve the SDGs. His recent work includes:

• Dunbar, A. (2022). Arguing for Criminal Justice Reform: Examining the Effects of Message Framing on Policy Preferences. Justice Quarterly. Advanced online publication. doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2022.2038243
• Holbrook, M., Dunbar, A., & Miller, M.K, (2022). Judges’ Perceptions of Systemic Racism in the Criminal Justice System. Race and Justice. Advanced online publication. doi.org/10.1177/21533687221087388
• Dunbar, A. & Hanink, P. (2022). Policing Protests: An Experimental Evaluation of the Impact of Protester Race on Support for Police Reform. Journal of Experimental Criminology. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11292-021-09499-2
• Dunbar, A. & Jones, N.E. (2020). Policing Two Pandemics: Considering the Relationships among Race, Public Health, and Policing. Ethnic and Racial Studies. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1080/01419870.2020.1851381
• Dunbar, A. (2020). Follow the Money: Racial Crime Stereotypes and Willingness to Fund Crime Control Polices. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. Advance online publication.
• Dunbar, A., Hughes, C., Kupchik, A., & Lewis, R. (209). Fear of a Black (And Poor) School: Race, Class, and School Safety Policy Preferences. Race & Justice. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/2153368719881679.
• Dunbar, A. (2019). Rap Music, Race, and Perceptions of Crime. Sociology Compass. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/soc4.12732.
• Dunbar, A. & Kubrin, C.E. (2018). Imagining Violent Criminals: Rap Music Stereotypes and Character Judgments. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 14(4), 507-528.
• Dunbar, A. (2018). Art or Confession?: Evaluating Rap Lyrics as Evidence in Criminal Cases. Race and Justice, 10(3), 320-340. doi.org/10.1177/2153368717749879.
• Dunbar, A., Kubrin, C.E., & Scurich, N. (2016). The Threatening Nature of “Rap” Music. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 22(3), 280-292.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article focuses on Adam Dunbar’s research, which is centered on the “intersection of race and the criminal justice system” and “racial disparities in policing and punishment.” This directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities, specifically those based on race and ethnicity within societal institutions.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The research described in the article is entirely concerned with the criminal justice system, including policing, punishment, and public opinion on reform. This aligns with SDG 16’s aim to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, with a particular focus on ensuring justice for all.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

   • The article highlights research on “systemic racism in the criminal justice system” and the “impact of protester race on support for police reform.” This work directly examines discriminatory practices and attitudes that lead to inequalities of outcome, which is the core of Target 10.3.

2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   • Dunbar’s research on “racial disparities in policing and punishment” implies that access to justice is not equal for all. By studying how factors like “race, culture, and crime” stereotypes influence outcomes, the research addresses the fundamental challenge of ensuring equal access to and treatment by the law.

3. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   • The focus on “public opinion about criminal justice reform” and “obstacles to reform efforts” directly relates to making justice institutions more accountable and responsive to the public. Understanding public perceptions is a key step toward building more transparent and trusted institutions.

4. Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

   • The research on “stereotyping and prejudice” and how “racial crime stereotypes” affect willingness to fund policies points to the existence and impact of discriminatory attitudes within the system. This work supports the need to identify and enforce non-discriminatory policies as outlined in Target 16.b.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Implied Indicator: Data on disparities in justice system outcomes by race and ethnicity.

   • The article’s central theme of “racial disparities in policing and punishment” implies the use of statistical data to measure these gaps. Such data would serve as a direct indicator of whether inequalities of outcome (Target 10.3) and unequal access to justice (Target 16.3) are being reduced.

2. Implied Indicator: Public perception of fairness and discrimination in the justice system.

   • Research into “public opinion about criminal justice reform” and “judges’ perceptions of systemic racism” suggests the use of surveys and qualitative studies to measure public and professional confidence in the justice system. This serves as an indicator for the accountability and inclusivity of institutions (Target 16.6) and the prevalence of perceived discrimination (related to Target 10.3).

3. Implied Indicator: Analysis of policies and funding for discriminatory impact.

   • The publication titled “Follow the Money: Racial Crime Stereotypes and Willingness to Fund Crime Control Polices” implies an indicator that measures how resources are allocated. Analyzing funding decisions and policies for racial bias is a way to measure progress towards enforcing non-discriminatory policies (Target 16.b).

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: unr.edu