Gangs on Trial: A Conversation with John Hagedorn
Event Summary
Great Cities Institute hosted “Gangs On Trial: A Conversation with John Hagedorn,” a public forum examining how stereotypes and “gang” labels shape courtroom outcomes. Introduced by GCI Director Teresa Córdova and co-sponsored with UIC’s Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice, the event featured criminologist and ethnographer John Hagedorn discussing his book Gangs On Trial: Challenging Stereotypes and Demonization in the Courts.
Hagedorn drew on his experience as an expert witness in gang-related cases to show how prosecutors often rely on standardized “gang narratives” and dehumanizing language—framing defendants as inherently violent or fundamentally different—in ways that can overshadow evidence and context. He explored the social-psychological mechanics of stereotyping, including unconscious “priming,” and argued that these dynamics contribute to harsh sentencing and reinforce broader patterns of mass incarceration.
The program also highlighted practical strategies for challenging stereotypes in legal settings, including reframing “gang” behavior in human and situational terms rather than sensationalized myths. A Q&A followed, addressing how gang-related claims circulate across jurisdictions, the role and quality of prosecution “gang experts,” and how structural conditions—poverty, racism, trauma, and neighborhood instability—shape the lives of justice-involved youth who are frequently mislabeled as gang members.