Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Sanctions are central to criminology as they represent society’s formal response to crime and deviance. They include a broad range of measures, from fines and community service to imprisonment and the death penalty. Sanctions not only aim to prevent and punish offending but also reflect deeper questions of justice, legitimacy, and social control. This article
Criminal justice refers to the institutions, processes, and practices by which societies respond to crime, including policing, courts, and corrections. Due process, by contrast, is the principle that ensures the protection of individual rights and liberties against arbitrary state power. Together, they reflect one of the central tensions of modern legal systems: the balance between
Restorative Justice (RJ) represents a paradigm shift in the way societies deal with crime and conflict. Rather than focusing on punishment and retribution, restorative approaches emphasise dialogue, reparation, and the active participation of all parties involved. Victims, offenders, and community members are brought together to address harm, foster accountability, and promote healing. Restorative justice is
Crime is a highly emotional topic. Media reports, political debates, and everyday conversations create images of crime that are often distorted or exaggerated. Criminology, however, shows that many of these perceptions are myths. The following section presents twelve widespread myths about crime and critically discusses them.
Women, Crime and Poverty (1988) is one of the most influential works of British criminologist Pat Carlen. Based on empirical research with women in the British criminal justice system, Carlen presents a groundbreaking feminist critique that links female criminality to structural poverty, social exclusion, and gender-specific forms of control. The book is considered a key
Being Mentally Ill by Thomas J. Scheff is considered a key contribution to labelling theory and the sociology of mental deviance. Building on the theoretical insights of Howard S. Becker and Erving Goffman, Scheff argues that “mental illness” is not (only) a biologically or medically defined condition, but is significantly shaped by social processes of