John Hagan

John Hagan is a Canadian-American sociologist and criminologist whose work bridges quantitative research, sociological theory, and critical criminology. He is Professor of Sociology and Law at Northwestern University and a former president of the American Society of Criminology. Hagan is known for his contributions to power-control theory, studies of war crimes and state crime, and his sociological analyses of legal institutions and inequality.

Hagan’s most influential theoretical contribution is the Power-Control Theory, developed with A. R. Gillis and John Simpson, which explores how gender and family structure shape delinquency. The theory integrates elements of control theory, feminist theory, and family sociology, arguing that patriarchal family models produce greater gender differences in deviance than egalitarian ones. Beyond this, Hagan has done significant empirical work on state crime, the criminal justice system, and social stratification, applying sociological methods to explore how law and institutions reproduce inequality. His work exemplifies a combination of rigorous empirical research with normative and critical reflection.

Interview

This video interview was conducted as part of the Oral History of Criminology Project. In this conversation, John Hagan reflects on his influential work in the sociology of law and criminology, including the development of Power-Control Theory and his research on state crime, war, and social justice.