Advancing Reforms in the Criminal Legal System
The criminal legal system is deeply intertwined with language, from the interpretation of documents and testimonies to how race, social disparities, and marginalized communities are represented in the courtroom. The language used by legal professionals, including judges, lawyers, and jurors, can often perpetuate bias and inequality. This conference aims to foster collaboration between linguists and legal experts to explore ways linguistic expertise, research, and engagement can be used to address injustices and support reform efforts. The conference will pay particular attention to the criminal legal system in the United States.
Key highlights of the conference include:
Plenary: Prof. John Baugh (Rice University), a leading voice in linguistic research on social disparities, will provide a plenary talk, "Ethical foundations and considerations for legal applications of linguistics".
Poster Session: We invite students, faculty, and researchers to present their ongoing work in this important area, fostering a space for knowledge exchange and collaboration. (Poster submissions are still being accepted, through the registration form.)
Sessions on Key Topics: The conference will feature panel discussions on topics such as:
- Linguistics and criminal justice reform
- Mass incarceration, race, and language variation in the U.S.
- Non-English languages in the U.S. criminal justice system
- Linguistic approaches and methodologies to advancing legal work
- Career and funding opportunities for linguistics researchers and students in legal contexts
- The role of linguists as legal experts
Networking and Professional Development: We aim to create opportunities for participants to connect, share research, and explore career paths at the intersection of linguistics and law.
This conference is a unique opportunity to engage with critical issues at the intersection of language and justice and to build relationships that will foster future collaborations. We hope the event will inspire linguists and legal professionals alike to explore how linguistic expertise can contribute to real-world reforms in the criminal justice system.
Call for Posters: We invite participants to submit posters showcasing their ongoing research on topics related to linguistics and criminal justice. This is a great opportunity to share your work and connect with others in the field. In order to support students at the LSA Summer Institute in particular, poster proposals can continue to be submitted and will be considered up until July 10, 2025.