Professor Rodriguez helps guide criminal justice researcher’s Ph.D. journey
Santiago Campos-Rodríguez is grateful that UC Irvine criminology, law & society Professor Nancy Rodriguez (no relation) is among those helping guide his Ph.D. journey. The latest example is a $25,000 UCLA Latino Applied Policy Research Award for a project that looks at how racial and language-based disparities combine to shape the experiences of Latinos in the criminal justice system.
A fifth year UC Irvine doctoral student in economics, who anticipates defending his dissertation in Spring 2026, Campos-Rodríguez is part of the research team led by Rodriguez that produced February’s John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation-funded policy brief “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Local Criminal Justice Systems.” (UC Irvine economics doctoral candidate Joanna Williams and postdoctoral scholar Aaron Sullivan round out the research team.)
“We’re analyzing tens of thousands of cases and drawing on interviews with Spanish-dominant individuals to understand both the data patterns and the human side of the story,” Campos-Rodríguez explains. “Our preliminary estimates already show that Latinos are less likely to be released before trial and more likely to receive harsher sentences than whites, even for similar charges. The interviews highlight how limited access to interpreters often leaves people relying on family or strangers to understand legal documents, making it even harder to navigate an already complex system for them.”
“Santi has been a wonderful addition to the project on local criminal justice system,” says Rodriguez, referring to Campos-Rodríguez by his nickname. “For this grant, his contribution will allow us to advance research in important ways.”
He credits Rodriguez for helping navigate his current academic career.
“Dr. Rodriguez has been an incredible mentor in my Ph.D. journey,” Campos-Rodríguez says. “I feel fortunate to learn from one of the top scholars in a field I care deeply about, but what’s been equally meaningful is how generously she’s shared her insights on navigating academia. She’s opened doors by connecting me with people in the field, encouraged my growth through concrete opportunities, and supported me every step of the way. As a Latina who’s made a profound impact in both academia and public service, she has been also a powerful role model that inspires me to pursue work that is both rigorous and socially meaningful.”
A congratulatory letter from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute’s Directors of Research Silvia R. González and Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas informs that this year’s grantees and their work will be recognized during Latino Policy Day on the Los Angeles campus May 15.
“As a Latino myself, I feel incredibly honored,” says Campos-Rodríguez, whose nickname is “Santi.” “It means a great deal to have our work supported by an institution that is actively advancing equity and visibility for Latino communities. This recognition not only validates the importance of studying these structural barriers, but it also is a great motivation to continue producing research that can inform meaningful policy change.”
— Matt Coker