Sutton specializes in criminology, and his research frequently engages with themes of interpersonal violence, vulnerable populations and crimes of the powerful. His office is chock-full of honors and artifacts that serve as tangible reminders of the people and projects that have shaped his career.
Sutton began teaching at HWS in 2012 and was promoted to full professor in 2023. He has conducted approximately 50 prison field trips for students and holds multiple gang specialist certifications. He has completed homicide investigation training with the New York State Police, and brings a unique criminological perspective to a liberal arts setting.
Currently, Sutton is writing a book on the experiences of those who have lost a loved one to homicide. His published work has appeared in leading journals — including Punishment & Society and the Journal of Criminal Justice — covering topics such as prison ethnography, gangs and organizational offending.
