Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Richard A. Cloward (1926–2001) was an American sociologist and criminologist best known for his work on social structure, deviance, and social policy. A long-time professor at Columbia University, Cloward collaborated with Lloyd Ohlin to develop Differential Opportunity Theory and was active in anti-poverty movements, co-founding the National Welfare Rights Organization. Cloward’s contributions to criminology center
John Braithwaite (born 1951) is an Australian criminologist and regulatory scholar, serving as Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering work on restorative justice, corporate crime, and regulatory theory, and has significantly influenced criminal justice policies worldwide. Braithwaite’s work integrates criminology, sociology, and regulatory studies, focusing on how
Virginia Eubanks is an American political scientist, author, and activist whose work explores the intersection of technology, social justice, and inequality. As an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, SUNY, she investigates how automated decision-making systems, data analytics, and digital surveillance disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Eubanks’ research critically examines the role
Michael Tonry is an American criminologist and legal scholar, renowned for his critical analyses of penal policy, sentencing, and crime prevention. As a Professor of Law and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota, Tonry has authored influential works examining the social and political forces shaping criminal justice systems, particularly in the United States and
Nils Christie was a Norwegian criminologist and sociologist, internationally recognized for his critical perspectives on punishment and prisons. As Professor of Criminology at the University of Oslo, he became one of the most influential voices in abolitionist criminology. Christie argued for radically reducing the use of imprisonment and emphasized the importance of conflict resolution outside
James W. Messerschmidt is an American sociologist and criminologist known for his influential work on the intersections of gender, power, and crime. He is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Southern Maine. Messerschmidt’s research critically examines how masculinity is constructed, maintained, and enacted in relation to criminal behavior, and how social structures shape