Carrie L. Buist & Emily Lenning – Queer Criminology (2015)

With their book Queer CriminologyA perspective that explores the intersection of sexuality, gender identity, and the criminal justice system. (2015), Carrie L. Buist and Emily Lenning lay the foundation for a new criminological subfield that centers queer lives, identities, and experiences in the study of crime and social control. The book challenges the heteronormative and cisnormative assumptions that have long structured mainstream criminology and calls for a fundamental rethinking of deviance, justice, and victimization from a queer perspective.

Key Points

Background and Context

Queer CriminologyThe scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, prevention, and societal reactions to deviance within and beyond the criminal justice system. emerged at the intersection of queer theory and critical criminology. Buist and Lenning draw on feminist thought, poststructuralism, and intersectionality to expose how dominant criminological frameworks reproduce heteronormative assumptions. At the time of its publication, most mainstream criminological texts failed to seriously engage with issues of sexual identity, gender non-conformity, or the unique vulnerabilities of queer individuals within the criminal justice system.

The book builds upon prior activist and scholarly work—such as critiques of police brutality against queer communities, the history of sodomy laws, and the marginalization of trans people in prisons—and gives this body of knowledge a theoretical coherence within criminology.

Key Arguments

Heteronormativity in Criminology: One of the central arguments in Queer Criminology is that mainstream criminology operates within a heteronormative framework. This means that heterosexuality and binary gender identities are treated as the norm, while queer identities are often ignored, misrepresented, or pathologized. As a result, criminological research has historically failed to consider the lived realities of queer people. This critique parallels the foundational arguments made by Frances Heidensohn, who exposed how traditional criminology marginalized women’s experiences by taking male offenders and male-centered theories as universal.

Queer CriminalizationThe process of defining and enforcing behaviors as criminal. and Victimization: Buist and Lenning emphasize that queer individuals—especially transgender people and queer people of color—are disproportionately subjected to criminalization. This includes targeted policing, enforcement of discriminatory laws, and surveillance practices that mirror broader social prejudices. At the same time, queer people are more likely to be victims of violence—such as hate crimes, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence—yet often receive inadequate institutional support. This dual exposure to criminalization and victimization underscores a fundamental failure of the criminal justice system to protect queer lives, a point that resonates with Angela Davis’s broader critique of how carceral systems sustain systemic inequalities.

Reconceptualizing Justice: Rather than merely seeking inclusion within existing legal and penal frameworks, Queer Criminology calls for a radical rethinking of justice. Buist and Lenning argue for a transformative model that is responsive to queer experiences and resists the criminalization of gender and sexual non-conformity. This involves challenging punitive approaches and advocating for restorative, community-based solutions that center dignity, diversity, and self-determination. The authors’ vision aligns with abolitionist perspectives—such as those proposed by Davis—that view the prison system itself as a site of structural violence and seek its dismantling rather than reform.

IntersectionalityThe idea that social categories like race, class, gender, and sexuality intersect to create overlapping systems of oppression.: A defining feature of the book is its commitment to intersectionality. The authors stress that the experiences of queer individuals cannot be understood in isolation from other axes of oppression. RaceA socially constructed category used to differentiate groups based on perceived physical or cultural traits., class, disability, and immigration status intersect with gender and sexuality to shape how individuals encounter the criminal justice system. A white gay man and a Black trans woman, for example, face vastly different risks and realities. This insight not only deepens queer criminology’s analytical scope but also echoes the intersectional feminist approaches developed by scholars such as Kimberlé Crenshaw and adopted by critical criminologists seeking to expose the complex entanglements of power, identity, and punishment.

Impact and Relevance

Queer Criminology has become a touchstone for scholars working at the intersection of criminology, gender studies, and LGBTQ+ research. The book has inspired a growing body of empirical and theoretical work examining topics such as trans incarceration, queer youth homelessness, sex work, and the policing of LGBTQ+ communities. It has also informed broader debates within criminology about inclusivity, methodology, and the scope of the discipline.

The authors’ insistence on epistemic justice—the idea that knowledge production itself must be more inclusive and accountable—has resonated with efforts to decolonize and democratize criminological scholarship. Queer criminology continues to challenge the field to confront its normative assumptions and embrace diverse ways of knowing and being.

Conclusion

Buist and Lenning’s Queer Criminology marks a decisive shift in criminological thought. By integrating queer theory and pushing back against normative frameworks, the book opens new possibilities for theorizing crime, justice, and resistance. It invites scholars, activists, and practitioners to rethink the foundations of the discipline and to imagine more inclusive and liberatory approaches to harm, accountability, and repair.

References

• Buist, Carrie L. & Lenning, Emily (2015): Queer Criminology. New York: Routledge.
• Ball, Matthew (2016): “Queer Criminology: A New Direction.” Critical Criminology 24(1): 21–34.
• Woods, Jordan Blair & Shopes, Ryan (2022): “LGBTQ+ People and the Criminal Legal System.” Annual Review of Criminology 5: 179–198.