James Q. Wilson and his take-some-prisoners approach
UCLA professor Mark Kleiman, left, moderated a discussion on the legacy of the late emeritus professor James Q. Wilson. Pepperdine economist Angela Hawken, UCLA professor Mark Peterson and LAPD chief Charlie Beck took part.
Wilson, who died this year at age 80, was the subject of a spirited panel discussion June 4 co-presented by UCLA and Zócalo Public Square at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California. A panel of social scientists and policymakers analyzed Wilson’s intellectual legacy and pronounced it a mixed bag. The conversation was moderated by Mark Kleiman,
professor of public policy at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Panelists included UCLA political scientist Mark Peterson, Los Angeles Police Department chief Charlie Beck and Pepperdine University economist Angela Hawken.
Each of the participants had serious disagreements with Wilson — and each praised him profusely. For more, read Zocalo's report.