Alex S. Vitale

Alex S. Vitale is an American author and professor of sociology at Brooklyn College, where he coordinates the Policing and Social Justice Project. Vitale also holds a visiting professorship at London Southbank University. With extensive experience in policing and criminal justice reform, he consults for police departments and human rights organizations internationally and serves on the New York State Advisory Committee of the US Commission on Civil Rights.

Vitale's academic work is informed by direct experience with the effects of aggressive policing. He previously worked on the staff of the Coalition on Homelessness in San Francisco, directing civil rights policy, and later observed policing practices affecting homeless populations in New York City. After earning a doctorate in sociology from CUNY Graduate Center, Vitale published "City of Disorder: How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics." The book examines quality-of-life initiatives in New York City and other urban areas, focusing on the "zero tolerance" campaign under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and policy changes related to prostitution, graffiti, panhandling, and homelessness.

Vitale is also the author of "The End of Policing," which explores the history and impact of law enforcement in the United States. In the book, he argues for a fundamental rethinking of policing, tracing its roots to colonialism, slavery, and industrialization, and examining how police forces have historically enforced inequality and managed marginalized communities. Vitale discusses alternatives to traditional policing, such as legalization, restorative justice, and harm reduction, and highlights examples where these approaches have reduced crime, spending, and injustice.

Vitale has been interviewed by media outlets including NPR, the Intercept, Jacobin, the Nation, The Indypendent, Democracy Now, and The Daily Show on topics such as alternatives to policing and movements to defund or abolish the police. His essays have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, Nation, Jacobin, Fortune, and USA Today. Vitale is featured in the documentary film "Reimagining Safety" by director Matthew Solomon, which has received recognition at several film festivals. Through his books, media appearances, and academic work, Vitale contributes to ongoing discussions about policing, public safety, and criminal justice reform.