Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
White Collar Crime, first published in 1949, is considered a groundbreaking work in criminology. In this study, Edwin H. Sutherland not only coined the term “white collar crime” but also expanded the definition of crime to include offenses committed by upper-class individuals in the context of their professional roles. He criticized the prevailing criminological focus
Punishment and Social Structure by Georg Rusche and Otto Kirchheimer is considered a groundbreaking work of critical criminology. First published in 1939, it argues that penal systems do not merely follow moral or legal principles but are shaped primarily by economic structures and power relations. The authors analyze the historical development of punishment in relation
The Philadelphia Negro (1899) by W. E. B. Du Bois is a landmark in urban sociology and critical criminology. This pioneering study analyzes the social and economic conditions of African Americans in Philadelphia, revealing how segregation, institutional discrimination, and poverty contribute to crime and inequality. Combining empirical research with sharp theoretical insight, Du Bois challenges
The Culture of Control: Crime and Social Order in Contemporary Society (2001) is one of the central works of contemporary critical criminology. The British sociologist David Garland analyzes the fundamental transformation of Western penal and security policies since the 1970s. His central thesis: we live in a “culture of control” characterized by insecurity, punitiveness (from
This section presents key works in criminology that go beyond classical theories of crime. The selected texts are theoretically rich, interdisciplinary, and have had a lasting impact on criminological debate. They cover central themes such as social control, criminal law, policing, surveillance, social inequality, and deviant identities. Classics & Foundational Texts in Criminology W. E.