John Keith Irwin
Encyclopedia
John Keith Irwin was an American
sociologist
who was known internationally as an expert on the American prison system. He published dozens of scholarly articles and seven books on the topic.
. During his time in prison he earned 24 college credits through a university extension program. After his release from prison he received a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles
and then earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley
. Irwin later became a professor at San Francisco State University
, where he taught for 27 years until his retirement.
.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
who was known internationally as an expert on the American prison system. He published dozens of scholarly articles and seven books on the topic.
Early life and education
In 1952, Irwin robbed a gas station and served a five year prison term for armed robbery in Soledad PrisonCorrectional Training Facility
Correctional Training Facility is a state prison located on U.S. Highway 101, north of Soledad, California. Randy Grounds is the current Warden of the prison.-Facilities:...
. During his time in prison he earned 24 college credits through a university extension program. After his release from prison he received a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and then earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. Irwin later became a professor at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
, where he taught for 27 years until his retirement.
Career
In 1967 Irwin founded Project Rebound, a program which helps those coming out of prison go to college. Irwin co-founded the Prisoners Union in 1971, which organized inmates to push for their civil rights and worked closely with the California legislature on the Uniform Sentencing Act passed in 1976. At a panel presentation at the American Society of Criminology’s annual conference in 1997, Irwin helped officially establish the Convict Criminology movement, in which convicts who became professors critically examine the criminal justice system. In 1985 he received the August Vollmer award from the American Society of CriminologyAmerican Society of Criminology
The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency...
.