Issa Kohler-Hausmann
Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology
Issa Kohler-Hausmann is Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale. Her primary research interests are in criminal law, sociology of law, empirical legal studies, social and legal theory. Please contact Marisa Petriello with questions regarding conferences or speaking engagements.
FULL BIOGRAPHYEducation & Curriculum Vitae
Ph.D. (Sociology), New York University, 2014
J.D., Yale Law School, 2008
M.A., Northwestern University, 2006
B.A., University of Wisconsin, 2000
Courses Taught
- Sociology of Law: Law and Bureaucracy
Issa Kohler-Hausmann is Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale. Her primary research interests are in criminal law, sociology of law, empirical legal studies, social and legal theory.
Her book Misdemeanorland: Criminal Courts and Social Control in an Age of Broken Windows Policing (Princeton, 2018) is a mixed method multi-year study of New York City’s lower criminal courts in the era of mass misdemeanor arrests. It exposes how New York City’s signature policing initiative imposed underappreciated forms of social control upon hundreds of thousands of people arrested for low-level crimes. The book was awarded the Law and Society Association 2019 Herbert Jacob Book Prize recognizing new, outstanding work in law and society scholarship; the 2019 Mirra Komarovsky Book Award from the Eastern Sociological Society; the 2019 Albert J. Reiss Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award, Crime, Law, and Deviance Section of the American Sociological Association; and was one of five finalists for the 2018 C. Wright Mills Award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Her research in this area has also appeared in the Stanford Law Review, the American Journal of Sociology, and Demography.
Kohler-Hausmann’s current research explores the nature and meaning of social categories in legal doctrine and social science explanations, specifically how these categories are conceptualized for purposes of defining and detecting discrimination. Her work investigates the meaning of causal and constitutive claims involving social kinds, such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Her initial writing on this topic has appeared in the Northwestern Law Review’s 2019 inaugural issue on empirical legal scholarship.
Admitted to practice in New York State, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the Western District of Wisconsin, Kohler-Hausmann maintains an active pro bono legal practice. Among other projects, Kohler-Hausmann serves as co-lead counsel in two putative class action suits on behalf of persons serving indeterminate life sentences for crimes committed as juveniles. She previously worked in solo practice in felony and misdemeanor criminal defense, New York State freedom of information litigation, and has been an associate with Ilissa Brownstein & Associates.
Before coming to Yale, she was a Law Research Fellow at the Georgetown University Law Center. Kohler-Hausmann was a Visiting Scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation for the 2017–18 academic year. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she holds a Ph.D. from New York University in sociology, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a M.A. from Northwestern University.
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
The Ups and Downs of Advocacy
Students in Law School clinics are trained to pursue their clients’ goals on multiple fronts. When one path narrows or disappears, they continue along another.
Monday, June 5, 2023
No One Knows What ‘Race Neutral’ Admissions Looks Like — A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann '08
The Atlantic
Issa Kohler-Hausmann '08 is a Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Yale Law Professors, Via Open Letter, Support Work on Pardons and Paroles
CT Law Tribune
Several criminal law experts from Yale Law School wrote to stakeholders about Connecticut’s pause in commutations.
Friday, March 4, 2022
Maryland Must Go Further on Parole Reform — A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 and Avery Gilbert
The Washington Post
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is a Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale, and Avery Gilbert is a Clinical Lecturer in Law and Associate Research Scholar in Law at Yale Law School.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 on Nudging People to Appear in Court
In a new article in Science, Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 responds to recent research on how behavioral nudges can decrease “failure to appear” rates in court.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Yale philosopher and legal scholar collaborated on recent SCOTUS case
Yale News
Yale News highlights the work of Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08, who wrote an amicus brief for the Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia.
Monday, May 11, 2020
What Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Teach us About Sex and Causes — A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 et al.
University of Pennsylvania Law Review
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale. Elise Sugarman is a joint degree student at Yale Law School.
Friday, May 8, 2020
What's the Point of Parity? Harvard, Groupness, and the Equal Protection Clause — A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08
Northwestern Law Review
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale.
Friday, May 1, 2020
Coronavirus pandemic calls for safe releases from jails, prisons — A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 et al.
Madison Cap Times
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale. Maureen Busalacchi is co-chair of the Wisconsin Public Health Association's public affairs committee. Lily Hu is a Ph.D. candidate in math and philosophy at Harvard University.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
10 years. 179 arrests. No white defendants. DEA tactics face scrutiny in New York.
Washington Post
Associate Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is quoted in a Washington Post article about how DEA tactics may target minorities.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Associate Professor Kohler-Hausmann Secures Important Ruling in Class Action Lawsuit
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 and partners won a major ruling in federal court last month for the constitutional rights of people sentenced to life in prison for crimes committed as children.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Professor Kohler-Hausmann’s Book Wins Awards
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 has won several recent accolades for her book Misdemeanorland.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 and ACLU of Wisconsin Challenge State’s Parole System
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 worked with ACLU Wisconsin to file a federal class-action lawsuit to halt the state’s refusals to release parole-eligible people sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes they committed while they were children.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
A Critical Eye on the Implications of Misdemeanor Crimes
A Q&A with Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08, Associate Professor of Law at Yale Law School. In her most recent book, Professor Kohler-Hausmann turns a critical eye to the often overlooked topic of misdemeanor crimes.
Monday, October 29, 2018
Misdemeanorland: Social Control and New York City's Lower-Level Courts
Center for Court Innovation
Associate Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is interviewed about her book Misdemeanorland.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Down the Chain
The Nation
The book Misdemeanorland by Associate Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is reviewed.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Public Thinker: Issa Kohler-Hausmann on Misdemeanors and Mass Incarceration
Public Books
Associate Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is interviewed about her latest book Misdemeanorland: Criminal Courts and Social Control in an Age of Broken Windows Policing.
Monday, August 6, 2018
‘Social Control’ And ‘Broken Windows’
RNN/ Richard French Live
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 was interviewed about her new book, Misdemeanorland: Criminal Courts and Social Control in an Age of Broken Windows Policing.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
There is no liberal case for Kavanaugh—A Commentary by David Singh Grewal ’02, Amy Kapczynski ’03, and Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08
Los Angeles Times
David Singh Grewal ’02 is a Professor of Law, Amy Kapczynski ’03 is a Professor of Law, and Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is an Associate Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
The ‘Social Control’ Elements of New York’s Criminal Justice System
The New York Times
A review of Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann's ’08 book Misdemeanorland.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Rein in NYPD arrest-record abuse: Keep sealed files sealed—A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08
New York Daily News
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is an Associate Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Juvenile Offenders in New York Find Parole a Distant Hope
The Village Voice
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is quoted in an article about juvenile offenders in the New York State correctional system.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Think Manhattan DA Cy Vance Goes Easy on the Rich? Look at How He Prosecutes the Poor.
New York Magazine
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is quoted in an article about Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr..
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
How broken windows policing changed the legal landscape in 'Misdemeanorland' (podcast)
ABA Journal
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is interviewed about her book Misdemeanorland.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Professor Kohler-Hausmann’s Book Examines Misdemeanors and Policing Practices
In her book, Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 contributes to the growing research on the U.S. criminal justice system by directing attention to the neglected yet central role that misdemeanors play in administering social control.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
New York Forgets Its Juvenile Lifers
The New York Times
Scholarship by Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is cited in an editorial about juvenile offenders in the New York prison system.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Sanctuary Cities in Name Only
The New York Times
Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is quoted in an article about sanctuary cities.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Children Sentenced to Life: A Struggle for the N.Y. Board of Parole—A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08, Avery P. Gilbert, and Christopher Seeds
New York Law Journal
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is an Associate Professor of Law at Yale Law School; Avery P. Gilbert is an attorney and partner at Engage Strategies; and Christopher Seeds is an attorney in private practice.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
When Parole Boards Trump the Supreme Court
The Marshall Project
A New York state appeals case about parole procedures that Associate Professor of Law Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 worked on is discussed in a feature story.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Associate Professor Kohler-Hausmann Wins Case Involving NY Parole Board
A man convicted of a murder that occurred when he was 16 years old will have a new chance for parole after the State of New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division ruled in his favor.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Florida judge ends surprise-conviction practice
Associated Press Online
Associate Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is quoted in a story about a change in Florida law that will end the practice of surprise convictions for misdemeanors.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Kohler-Hausmann and MFIA Clinic Win Appeal
Professor Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08, with amicus support from the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic, successfully appealed a New York State court ruling prohibiting a record requestor from suing an agency for unreasonable delay when filing a Freedom of Information Request in the state.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Prof. Kohler-Hausmann to Receive Criminology Society Award
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ‘08, Associate Professor of Law, will receive the 2015 Outstanding Article Award from The American Society of Criminology at the society’s annual meeting on November 18. The award is for her paper “Misdemeanor Justice: Control without Conviction,” which appeared in the American Journal of Sociology.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Response to What’s Justice for Kids Who Kill?—A Commentary by Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08
The Marshall Project
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is an Associate Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Malloy Wants To Change Drug Laws
The Wall Street Journal
Associate Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 is quoted in a story about the press conference held yesterday by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announcing proposed changes to the state’s criminal justice laws.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 Appointed Associate Professor of Law
Kohler-Hausmann’s primary interests are in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Empirical Legal Studies, Tort Law, Sociology of Law, and Legal Theory.