PhD in Criminology, Law and Society

Clayton Drummond, 2025

Clayton taught multiple courses in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society and has co-authored multiple academic publications. He was awarded the Department's Service Award as a part of its student association's leadership team, and he received two university-level fellowships to fund his dissertation research.

What was your specific area of study and how did you choose it?  

I study social change and activism around the criminal legal system with a particular focus on extreme punishments and wrongful convictions. I did not truly interact with the idea of how, when, and why injustices occur in the United States until my undergraduate studies. One of my professors encouraged me to pursue a graduate degree, and I became fascinated in studying the role that individuals and organizations play in shaping a more just legal system. 

For my dissertation, I examined the movement to end life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences. LWOP is among the two most extreme punishments in the U.S. that result in death, the other being capital punishment. Interestingly, LWOP's proliferation over the last half-century has coincided with a dramatic decline in the use of, and public support for, the death penalty. Not to mention, some anti-death penalty activists have supported LWOP as an alternative to capital punishment during this time. It was thus important for my study to understand the anti-LWOP movement's historical development, its contemporary activism, and its relationship with the death penalty abolition movement. I collected qualitative data for my study, which included archival materials, interviews, and observational data. In summary, I found that the origins of activism opposing perpetual confinement can be traced to prisons in the mid-to-late 20th century. Then, when the Supreme Court restricted applications of the death penalty and mandatory LWOP for juveniles in the 21st century, the contemporary anti-LWOP movement gained momentum. I found that modern anti-LWOP activists use both political and judicial abolition strategies to drive change, though they often do so in a way that is siloed from the anti-death penalty movement. While these movements have a complex and complicated relationship, there is common ground that can benefit both in their efforts to end extreme punishments in the U.S. 

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you? 

I would not be who I am today, as a person, educator, or scholar, without the outstanding people who work in CHSS. I am tremendously grateful to the faculty and staff in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society, who took a great deal of time and effort investing in my academic and professional development. I'm leaving George Mason as an expert in my field of study, and with the skills necessary to excel in higher education. 

Which accomplishments during your time at George Mason are you most proud of? 

I'm most proud of my ability to produce published research with my professors/colleagues and obtain funding for my work. Writing is such a joyful experience for me, and to be able to put words on paper in a way that makes an impact is something I will never take for granted. 

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your George Mason career?

So many faculty and staff members have made my time at George Mason an absolutely incredible experience. From the time I entered the program in 2020, Brielle DeMatteo has always been there to support students and answer virtually any question regarding the program. Rob Norris and I have worked together since my first day on campus, and he has poured an extraordinary amount of energy into helping me achieve my dream of becoming a professor. Janani Umamaheswar, James Willis, Sue-Ming Yang, and Yasemin Irvin-Erickson have all been deeply supportive of my work. They have always been willing to take the time to provide advice and feedback, and I appreciate them so very much. 

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students? 

Enjoy the process. Graduate school is such a rewarding (though not always easy!) experience, so study the things you are passionate about and embrace these years with your colleagues. And, perhaps most importantly, believe in yourself. You can do this! 

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals? 

After graduation, I'll be starting a tenure-track position in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Western Carolina University. In terms of long-term career goals, I hope to continue teaching topics I love educating others about. I also look forward to working with students on research that inspires them.