Xavier Perez

Dr. Xavier Perez is an Assistant Professor and co-founder of the Criminology Department at DePaul University. A passionate advocate for critical and inclusive perspectives in criminal justice, Dr. Perez draws on his personal history of growing up in Chicago, where he experienced the effects of disinvestment, housing segregation, and mass incarceration. Dr. Perez's research interests examine the relationship between Criminology and Latinx populations. Specifically, what differentiates Latinx communities from other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. His work also examines global legal traditions and its influence on crime policies with particular attention to police-community relations in Puerto Rico. More recently, Dr. Perez is exploring the role of violence prevention efforts in working-class communities of color. Dr. Perez's teaching interests reflect the interdisciplinary nature of Criminology, intersecting the fields of Criminal Justice, Latinx Studies, Psychology and Sociology. His pedagogical approach incorporates student centered philosophies, dynamic discussions and critical-thinking assignments to engage students and broaden their worldview perspective. Dr. Perez views teaching as a profound opportunity to change the world-one lecture at a time. As an advocate for criminal justice reform, Dr. Perez teaches inside correctional institutions to humanize punishment and challenge our perceptions of justice. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee in Chicago's 26th Ward, he collaborates with violence prevention organizations to address crime through holistic, trauma-informed strategies.