Institutional Anomie, Crime and Inequality, Gun Violence, Crime Trends, Crime and Economy
Additional Information
Richard Rosenfeld (1948–2024) was an American criminologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. He was best known for his collaboration with Steven F. Messner on the Institutional Anomie Theory, which explains variations in crime rates through the interplay of cultural values and social institutions. Rosenfeld’s research also addressed issues such as crime trends, gun violence, drug markets, and the effects of economic inequality on crime.
Rosenfeld made significant contributions to understanding the macro-level social and economic conditions that influence crime, integrating criminological theory with empirical research on policy, crime prevention, and criminal justice reform.
Interview
This video interview was conducted as part of the Oral History of Criminology Project. In this conversation, Richard Rosenfeld discusses his contributions to criminological theory, including institutional anomie theory and crime trends, and reflects on the intersection of empirical research and public policy.
Key Works
Messner, S. F., & Rosenfeld, R. (1994/2007). Crime and the American Dream. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Rosenfeld, R., & Messner, S. F. (2013). Crime and the Economy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
