Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law

Faculty Co-Director Deborah Archer is president of the American Civil Liberties Union and a leading expert in civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice.
Faculty Co-Director Vincent Southerland leads the Criminal Defense and Re-entry Clinic.
Executive Director Jason Williamson co-leads the Racial Justice Clinic.
The center's public conversation on New York's Chief Judge vacancy featured New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, Noah Rosenblum, Alice Fontier, and Tolu Lawal.
One of the Center's public conversations on parole justice included (from left) Steve Zeidman, New York State Assemblymember Maritza Davila, Jose Saldana, Nawanna Snipe, and TeAna Taylor.
At the 2020 Kenneth P. Thompson ‘92 Lecture on Race and Criminal Justice Reform, Vincent Southerland (right) moderated a panel featuring Eric Gonzalez and Danielle Sered.
The Center co-hosts the annual Derrick Bell Lecture on Race in American Society, which honors the life and legacy of the late civil rights lawyer and NYU Law Professor Derrick Bell.

About Us

The Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law confronts the laws, policies, and practices that lead to the oppression and marginalization of people of color. We believe that the racism that permeates our present day legal system has deep roots. By documenting the history of racism in America, elevating the stories of those affected by race-based inequality, and rigorously applying a racial lens to analyze unremitting disparities, we identify actionable, forward-looking solutions to address the injustices caused by racism and then take action.

Our Work

Race & Narrative

Race & the Criminal Legal System

Race & Community Equity

Race & Technology

Initiative for Community Power

Programs for Students

Read our 2021-2022 Annual Report.

Event Spotlight

"Racing Religion: A Conversation with Sahar Aziz": Executive Director Jason Williamson and Professor Sahar Aziz discuss Professor Aziz's latest book and the long standing tension between race and religion in the United States.

Media: Deborah Archer on The Daily Show

Listen to Co-Faculty Director Deborah Archer discuss "How Racism is Built into America's Interstate Highways"

Recent Reports

Racial Segregation in Housing Policy (PDF: 20.7 MB) highlights some of the present-day policies and practices that continue to perpetuate a racial caste system in the United States.

Building Safe, Thriving Communities: Research-Based Strategies for Public Safety (PDF: 7.11 MB) lays out a new path for public safety using research-based strategies in policing, prosecution, and sentencing.

The Problem with Parole: New York's Failing System of Release makes policy recommendations to transform the parole system, putting redemption and rehabilitation first.