2005-2006 Dissertation Fellows

Anne Bonds

Anne Bonds is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Geography. Anne’s dissertation research examines geographies of rural poverty and rural prisons in the rural American Northwest, particularly as prisons have increasingly become a component of rural economic development initiatives. Focusing on the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, her dissertation examines prison growth as it has been framed as a strategy for economic development in persistently poor rural communities. Her research considers how this strategy for economic development is linked to the dynamics of economic restructuring in rural communities as limited resources, industry decline, and restricted job opportunities contribute both to the intensification of poverty and the challenges of supporting a local population with an insufficient industry and tax base. For more information about Anne’s academic interests, research, and publications please visit her website.

WCPC Funded Project:

Examining the Politics and Economics of Siting Prisons in Rural Communities Anne Bonds, Department of Geography, "The Politics of Poverty, Prisons, and Economic Restructuring in the Rural American Northwest," Faculty Supervisor: Victoria Lawson, Department of Geography

The U.S. prison population grew by 400 percent in the last two decades; corrections services are both one of the fast growing industries in the U.S. and one of the most rapidly increasing categories of state expenditures. This study examines the siting of prisons as a component of both criminal justice policies and local economic development initiatives in poor rural communities. It will compare prison industry recruitment in four communities in the Northwest to investigate the political and economic dynamics that result from the interaction of criminal justice and penal policies, increasing competition for economic development opportunities in rural communities, and rising rates of incarceration and poverty.

Contact Information:

Anne Bonds Email: abonds@u.washington.edu
Webpage: http://students.washington.edu/abonds/