Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Marcus Felson is an American criminologist best known for co-developing the Routine Activity Theory and for his work in situational and environmental criminology. He has held academic positions at institutions including Texas State University and Rutgers University. Felson’s work focuses on how everyday environments and social structures create opportunities for crime—and how they can be
Lawrence E. Cohen was an American sociologist and criminologist best known for co-developing the Routine Activity Theory, one of the most influential frameworks in environmental and situational criminology. He held academic positions at the University of California, Irvine, and played a key role in shifting criminological focus from offender motivation to the situational contexts of
Lawrence W. Sherman is an American criminologist known for his pioneering work in evidence-based policing, experimental criminology, and crime prevention strategies. He has held prestigious academic positions at institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the University of Maryland, and served as Director of the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology. Sherman has worked extensively
Michael R. Gottfredson is an American criminologist best known for co-developing the General Theory of Crime with Travis Hirschi. He has held academic and administrative positions at institutions such as the University of Arizona and the University of California, Irvine, where he served as Chancellor. Gottfredson’s work has focused on the causes of criminal behavior,
Travis Hirschi was an American criminologist whose theories fundamentally shaped the study of crime and deviance in the second half of the 20th century. He served as a professor at institutions such as the University of Arizona and the University of Washington and is best known for developing the Social Bond Theory and, later, the
Jack P. Gibbs was an American sociologist and criminologist known for his influential contributions to deterrence theory within the rational choice framework. A long-time professor at the University of Arizona and later at Vanderbilt University, Gibbs developed a formal and systematic approach to understanding how the certainty, severity, and celerity of punishment influence criminal behavior.