News Summary
Ieva Jusionyte, a Brown University professor, has received the MacArthur Foundation’s ‘genius’ grant to support her research on the extradition of organized crime leaders. The $800,000 grant will aid her in writing a book that explores the complex extradition processes from Latin America to the United States. Jusionyte’s research includes interviews with major organized crime figures and seeks to examine the broader implications of these extradition processes on justice and society.
Providence, Rhode Island – Ieva Jusionyte, a professor at Brown University, has been awarded the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s “genius” grant for her research focused on the extradition of organized crime leaders. At 41 years of age, Jusionyte is one of 22 national recipients of this grant, which provides an $800,000 stipend over five years without any restrictions. This funding aims to support her upcoming book, which will delve into the complexities and implications of extradition processes involving organized crime from Mexico and other Latin American countries to the United States.
Jusionyte’s new book promises to be her most challenging yet, as it requires her to gather insights from a wide array of sources, such as politicians, US Justice Department employees, diplomats, and imprisoned organized crime figures. Notably, she is conducting interviews with key leaders of major organized crime groups, including the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, in federal prisons throughout the U.S. This in-depth examination is expected to not only illuminate the extradition process but also its broader social and political ramifications.
This research builds upon Jusionyte’s previous work, which includes two notable books: “Threshold: Emergency Responders on the US-Mexico Border” and “Exit Wounds: How America’s Guns Fuel Violence Across the Border.” Together, these works create a trilogy that analyzes the themes of borders, violence, and justice in relation to organized crime and its connections to drug and gun trafficking. Her new book will challenge existing notions of justice and accountability, particularly as they pertain to the systemic violence wrought by organized crime.
Jusionyte’s academic journey is significantly influenced by her background. Growing up in Lithuania, a country that was once a Soviet Socialist Republic, she developed a passion for understanding borders and their implications at an early age. Lithuania gained independence in 1990, a moment that was solidified with recognition from the Soviet Union in 1991, following a series of economic blockades and military actions. Witnessing pivotal moments like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the lifting of the Iron Curtain, Jusionyte’s experiences have shaped her analytical approach to borders and the concept of justice in diverse contexts.
Despite her rigorous research agenda, Jusionyte faces significant challenges in accessing reliable sources and data surrounding the politically sensitive nature of extradition processes. She confronts the difficulty of quantifying justice in scenarios involving transnational crime, especially given the varied experiences of violence victims in Mexico juxtaposed with those suffering from drug overdoses in the United States. She notes that while political attitudes toward border policy have remained largely constant across different administrations, her advocacy leans towards comprehensive immigration reform rather than surface-level fixes like constructing border walls.
As her research progresses, Jusionyte acknowledges the emotional complexities of studying organized crime figures. Her previous humanitarian-focused work is now entwined with narratives of individuals deeply embedded within criminal organizations, complicating her ability to maintain an analytical distance as a scholar. Through her MacArthur grant, she aims to explore these challenges further, contributing critical insights into the ongoing discussions surrounding borders, organized crime, and the justice system.
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Additional Resources
- The Boston Globe: Brown University Professor Awarded MacArthur Grant
- Wikipedia: Extradition
- The Boston Globe: Ieva Jusionyte’s Research
- Google Search: Ieva Jusionyte
- The Boston Globe: Organized Crime Extradition
- Google Scholar: Organized Crime
- The Boston Globe: Jusionyte’s Previous Works
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Organized Crime
- The Boston Globe: Extradition Challenges
- Google News: Extradition and Organized Crime
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