Larson Publishes Research on Intergenerational Impact of Fines and Fees

Ryan Larson, assistant professor in the criminology and forensic science department, is an author on a new research article entitled "Fines, Fees, and Families: Monetary Sanctions as Stigmatized Intergenerational Exchange" in The Sociological Quarterly. Dr. Larson and his colleagues analyze 70 semi-structured interviews of debtholders in Minnesota, finding that the impacts of monetary sanctions are intergenerational and experiences as a form of stigmatized exchange. Adult children reported perceiving anger and financial strain from family members who provide payment assistance. Further, those with minor children expressed hopelessness, stress, and financial strain, as they prioritized basic needs over meeting their outstanding financial obligations.