Oral History Project
Interview: Psychologist Craig Haney, Ph.D., J.D.
By: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
April 2, 2025
Oral history interview with social psychologist Craig Haney, Ph.D., J.D., conducted by Michigan Law 2L Spoorthi Krishnaraj on April 2, 2025. This interview addresses Dr. Haney's work at the intersection of social psychology and law. Topics of focus include Dr. Haney's work studying and shedding light on the psychological effects of incarceration, addressing mental health behind bars, and the death penalty, and his advocacy for meaningful, humane reform of the criminal justice system.
Interview Summary
This interview with Craig Haney, Ph.D., J.D. addresses Dr. Haney's work at the intersection of social psychology and law, including the psychological effects of incarceration, mental health behind bars, and the death penalty, and his advocacy for meaningful, humane reform of the criminal justice system. The interview covers Dr. Haney's background and early career path, the Stanford Prison Experiment in 1971, mitigation work he's done, his role as an expert witness in the Ashker v. Brown litigation, and other topics related to mental health and incarceration.
View the full interview with Dr. Haney here:
Publications/Resources
By: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
April 2, 2025
Contents: Clearinghouse Oral History Project Interview with Dr. Craig Haney (Spring 2025)
[0:00-6:13] Introduction, Background, and Early Interests
[6:14-14:13] Graduate School & Turning Point Toward Law
[14:14-29:00] Origins of the Stanford Prison Experiment
[29:01–35:14] Reflections on the Experiment & Institutional Power
[35:15–41:38] The Public and Prison Sentences
[41:39-46:49] Litigation Work & Studying Real Prisons
[46:50-49:33] Decision to Go to Law School
[49:34-59:38] Law School Experiences & Tony Amsterdam
[59:39-01:12:03] Death Qualification & Death Penalty
[01:12:04-01:18:53] Mitigation Work
[01:18:54-01:28:22] Courtroom Dynamics
[01:28:23-01:31:57] Solitary Confinement
[01:31:58-01:34:40] Supermax Prisons
[01:34:41-01:49:56] Psychological Effects of Solitary Confinement
[01:49:57-02:05:28] Pelican Bay
[02:05:29-02:13:56] Ashker Expert Witness
[02:13:57-02:29:18] Final Thoughts
Full Video
By: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
April 2, 2025