Nicolas Gutierrez III is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Southern California. He works as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Captive Money Lab, which examines the impacts of pay-to-stay prison fees on formerly incarcerated individuals and their families, and at the Bluthenthal Lab, which studies harm reduction strategies among people who inject drugs. His doctoral research focuses on the intersection of unsheltered homelessness, criminalization, and mutual aid in Los Angeles. His work is guided by a commitment to preserving the dignity and autonomy of populations that are often criminalized and dehumanized—including people experiencing homelessness, mental health or substance use issues, and those who are systems-involved. He has published on how racial discrimination by police affects the service-seeking behaviors of unhoused individuals and how encampment sweeps impact the well-being of unsheltered Angelenos. He also organizes with mutual aid groups across LA to address the unmet needs of encampment residents facing regular sweeps and inconsistent outreach. He has advanced mobility justice and racial equity as a community engagement consultant for LA Metro, LADOT, and SCAG. He holds an M.S. in Criminal Justice and Criminology from San Diego State University and a B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society from UC Irvine. Born and raised in West Adams, Nicolas is a lifelong Angeleno committed to realizing Los Angeles as a truly “just city” for all.
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