The Japanese American incarceration and the origins of penology in California: A microhistory
Publication Date
1-1-2024
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Howard Journal of Crime and Justice
DOI
10.1111/hojo.12583
Abstract
The history of academic criminology has been written at a macro-scale from national and international perspectives. These histories rely on abstract concepts that overlook external events in the formation of criminology. Using a microhistory approach, this article explores the origins of the penology programme established at the Police School of San José State University. Willard Schmidt started the programme in 1946 based on his experience as director of security police at Tule Lake prison camp, a site for incarceration of Japanese Americans during the Second World War. The discussion examines August Vollmer's role in founding the Police School and his opposition to the incarceration, Schmidt's activities at Tule Lake, and how this shaped the first penology programme in California.
Keywords
August Vollmer, history of criminology, Japanese American incarceration, microhistory
Department
Justice Studies
Recommended Citation
Paul Knepper. "The Japanese American incarceration and the origins of penology in California: A microhistory" Howard Journal of Crime and Justice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12583
