Between 2003 and 2011, the New York City Police Department conducted nearly 5 million pedestrian stops and more than 2.5 million pedestrian frisks. In this talk, Harknett explains finding opposite effects of this police intervention on the mental health of New York City residents for Black and non-Black residents. In particular, high rates of stop and frisk policing had harmful effects for Black New Yorkers and positive effects for non-Black residents, raising questions of distributive justice.

Harknett studies how our social environment influences our most personal decisions, sometimes in ways that are apparent to us. One line of research investigates how context – city of residence, school, or labor market – shapes romantic relationships. Her research shows that male shortages and weak labor markets act as impediments to stable romantic relationships. A second line of research considers the importance of “private safety nets” comprised of supportive family members and friends.