Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Fritz Sack is a German sociologist and criminologist best known for introducing the labeling approach (Etikettierungsansatz) to the German-speaking world and for his critical engagement with power, law, and social control. He held professorships at several German universities, most notably at the University of Hamburg, where he significantly shaped critical criminology in Germany. Sack played
William J. Chambliss was an American sociologist and criminologist known for his groundbreaking work in conflict theory, critical criminology, and sociology of law. He held academic positions at the University of Washington and George Washington University and was a past president of both the American Society of Criminology and the Society for the Study of
Edwin M. Lemert was an American sociologist best known for his foundational contributions to the sociology of deviance and the development of labeling theory. Trained in sociology and anthropology, Lemert taught at institutions such as the University of California, focusing on social problems, deviant behavior, and the role of societal reaction in shaping identity. Lemert
Frank Tannenbaum was an American historian, journalist, and sociologist whose interdisciplinary work bridged criminal justice, labor history, and Latin American studies. Though he did not work as a criminologist in the strict academic sense, his theoretical contribution to the sociology of deviance – especially through his concept of the dramatization of evil – laid important
Gresham M. Sykes was an American sociologist and criminologist renowned for his pioneering work in prison sociology and theories of deviance. He taught at institutions such as Princeton University and was instrumental in shifting the focus of criminology towards sociological and interactionist perspectives. His work continues to shape the study of correctional institutions and social
David Matza (1930–2018) was an American sociologist and criminologist best known for his contributions to the sociology of deviance and juvenile delinquency. As a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Matza developed influential theoretical concepts, including Drift Theory, which challenged deterministic explanations of criminal behavior. His work bridged structural and interactionist perspectives, emphasizing the