Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
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.
Franz von Liszt was a German jurist and criminologist who became one of the leading figures of the so-called “modern school” of criminal law at the turn of the 20th century. He rejected the purely retributive notion of punishment and argued for a criminology-informed legal system that would address the causes of crime and focus
John Howard was an English philanthropist and prison reformer whose groundbreaking inspections of prisons in Britain and across Europe in the late 18th century laid the foundation for modern penal reform. Deeply moved by the inhumane conditions he observed, Howard advocated for sanitary improvements, humane treatment of prisoners, and structured prison administration. His work inspired
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