About

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Ashley Nellis, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized scholar in the study of punishment in America's criminal legal system. Her research focus on life sentences and long-term imprisonment is cited widely because of its unique contribution to the field of criminology and its broad accessibility to policymakers, advocates, litigators, and the public.

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Dr. Nellis is the author of two books and eight book chapters. Her work has appeared in scholarly journals and law reviews, she regularly appears in the media, and she presents regularly before numerous professional and academic audiences. She serves as a mitigation specialist in hearings related to disproportionately long sentences for individuals convicted of crime. She teaches at American University in Washington, DC.

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