Stephen C. Richards Ph.D, is Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He is the author of five books, and numerous scholarly articles. He is lead organizer and one of the founders of the New School of Convict Criminology, the Convict Criminology Theoretical Perspective and Group. Richards is a Soros Senior Justice Fellow.Richards served a 9 year sentence in US federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana. He completed a BS Degree in Sociology from UW-Madison (1986) while in prison. Upon release from prison he finished an MA in Sociology at UW-Milwaukee (1989), and then a PhD in Sociology at Iowa State University (1992). His academic work, speaking engagements, media appearances, and books have focuses on building a community of formerly incarcerated men and women to challenge the intellectual and government support of the prison state.