Ben A. McJunkin
@benmcjunkin.bsky.social
1.3K followers 870 following 160 posts
Criminal law professor at Arizona State University. Homelessness, sex crimes, and policing. Scholarship here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=681766
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benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I’m genuinely so excited to announce that my new article, Consent & Causation, will be published by the Virginia Law Review!

I’ll get it up on SSRN soon, but here is the (lengthy) abstract. I always welcome feedback, so please DM or email me if you’d like to read an early draft.
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
wolvendamien.bsky.social
Do you want lower rates of "crime"?

Do you want increased childhood development and well-being?

Do you want lower rates of homelessness?

Do you want to reduce overdose deaths?

Do you want these things cheaper than ever?

Then give people housing, food, schooling, medicine, and support, for free.
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
johnholbein1.bsky.social
BREAKING: A new experiment in Philly shows cash rental assistance slashed homelessness rates by 57–67%.
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
Just wrapped up my first CrimFest! I had a fabulous time and met so many terrific young scholars. Many thanks to @cbhessick.bsky.social and @hashtagblevin.bsky.social for organizing, and Penn Carey Law for hosting!
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
Just wrapped up my first CrimFest! I had a fabulous time and met so many terrific young scholars. Many thanks to @cbhessick.bsky.social and @hashtagblevin.bsky.social for organizing, and Penn Carey Law for hosting!
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I'm a little late in posting this, but my essay on the Supreme Court's Grants Pass decision last term is now officially out in the Washington University Law Review! If you are interested in the criminalization of homelessness, give it a read!

wustllawreview.org/2025/06/20/g...
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I’ll take a look at this! Sounds interesting.
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I’ve read an early version of this article and it is very interesting! It makes a great case for systemic mercy for some offenders.
buchhandler.bsky.social
My recent article "Compassionate Undercharging" has just been uploaded on @ssrn.bsky.social ! Highlighting the impact of domestic abuse, it advocates for bringing lesser homicide charges against victimized offenders. #MenendezBrothers
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Compassionate Undercharging
<p><span>Undercharging, a common prosecutorial tactic, refers to the strategic pursuit of lesser charges than the law permits. While undercharging is primarily
papers.ssrn.com
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
mguariglia.bsky.social
One of the thing that angers me most about unaccountable federal police, including ICE, but also police in general--is every step over the last 30 years to aggrandize their power has been met with warnings that exactly this would happen.
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
leahmcelrath.bsky.social
It’s important to pay attention to the fact that there are simultaneous efforts to criminalize mask-wearing by citizens and to standardize the wearing of face-obscuring gaiters by people purporting to be law enforcement.
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
Hi Matthew! For multiple choice that I may reuse, I do Zoom meetings where I share my screen to go through any missed questions. I’ve never had a student try to take notes (and hopefully they are not surreptitiously taking screenshots), so I don’t worry much about losing control of the material.
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I’m proud to be one of 775 law professors who signed this amicus brief in support of Susman Godfrey.

law.stanford.edu/wp-content/u...
law.stanford.edu
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
We can’t wait to have you!
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
stevevladeck.bsky.social
If the U.S. government is going to take the position that, once removed from the United States, folks can’t be brought back, then it sure seems to me that federal courts should be reflexively and categorically barring *all* removals until they’re 100 percent certain that the removals are lawful.
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
ohrobin.bsky.social
40%-60% of the 775,000 unhoused people in America are employed. We are a nation of the working poor. The working desperate.
brian-goldstone.bsky.social
Homeless workers now have to submit *proof of employment* to be allowed to sleep in their cars in one of the richest counties in the U.S.

Welcome to America: people shivering overnight in subzero temperatures, steps from luxury ski resorts, for the privilege of keeping the local economy booming.
In One Colorado Town, People Experiencing Homelessness Can Sleep in Their Car — if They Have a Job
People experiencing homelessness can sleep in their cars in this wealthy ski town in Colorado, but only if they have a job.
www.nytimes.com
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
What Missouri has done to St. Louis and Kansas City is a disgrace. They are the only two major cities in the U.S. that do not have authority over their own police. The local nature of U.S. policing is a feature; it puts power to control police in the hands of those who bear most of the costs.
boltsmag.org
Bolts @boltsmag.org · Apr 12
St. Louis residents are upset Missouri's takeover of the local police force will shut down avenues for residents to influence law enforcement practices in their own city. “It is like there is no respect for democracy," said advocate Jamala Rogers.
boltsmag.org/missour...
Missouri Officials Seize Control of St. Louis Police, in Latest Bid to Shutter Local Reforms
The takeover returns St. Louis to a Civil War-era arrangement of state control. A local official calls the move "a clear gesture of white men wanting to control urban areas."
boltsmag.org
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
The student expressed genuine concern that their firm may be a black mark on their resume if they eventually want to transition into a more liberal organization. But they also worked hard to get where they are and seemed conflicted about potential costs of leaving. These are complicated decisions!
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I had a call with a former student last night who is at one of these firms and who is struggling with the decision about whether to react. It sounds like lots of young associates are looking for lateral opportunities elsewhere, but there’s so much uncertainty about which other firms may yet cave.
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I would be happy to join future efforts.
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
Was randomly scrolling this morning and saw a face I recognized. One of my students, Alec Bacon ‘26, has just been named an @acslaw.bsky.social Next Generation Leader. I doubt he’s on this app, but I wanted to share his accomplishment. Congratulations, Alec!!

www.acslaw.org/press_releas...
American Constitution Society Announces 2025 Next Generation Leaders | ACS
www.acslaw.org
Reposted by Ben A. McJunkin
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
Although we are a little lower than last year, I’m still proud that Arizona State continues to be recognized for the strength of its criminal law program.

We have a terrific group of dedicated criminal law scholars that reflect a wide variety of practice experiences and scholarly interests.
Graphic showing that Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is ranked #32 in the U.S. News & World Report Criminal Law specialty rankings.
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
Although we are a little lower than last year, I’m still proud that Arizona State continues to be recognized for the strength of its criminal law program.

We have a terrific group of dedicated criminal law scholars that reflect a wide variety of practice experiences and scholarly interests.
Graphic showing that Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is ranked #32 in the U.S. News & World Report Criminal Law specialty rankings.
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
I literally bought a new car on April 1 for this reason. (Also, I needed a car.)
benmcjunkin.bsky.social
Thank you so much to the Widener University Commonwealth Law School and the Widener Commonwealth Law Review for inviting me to present my symposium essay “Harm and Wrongdoing in the Law of Rape” today! I had a wonderful time and was so impressed with the engagement of the audience.