Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Policing does not simply mean the police. While the police are the most visible and influential agents of policing, the term refers more broadly to the diverse practices and institutions through which authority is exercised to maintain security, enforce laws, and regulate everyday life. Social order, in turn, describes the stability of social interactions, guided
Crime Control as Industry: Towards GULAGS, Western Style? is one of the most influential works in critical criminology. Published in 1993 by Norwegian criminologist Nils Christie, the book delivers a stark critique of modern penal systems, particularly the alarming growth of incarceration in Western democracies. Christie likens the penal apparatus to a profit-oriented industry and
With Tearing Down the Streets, American sociologist and criminologist Jeff Ferrell published a work in 2001 that is exemplary of Cultural Criminology. In this book, Ferrell examines how urban spaces are transformed into zones of conflict through practices like graffiti, skateboarding, and punk music—spaces where state control, economic interests, and subcultural resistance collide. The book
The Broken Windows Theory was developed by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. According to the authors, even minor signs of neglect, like a broken window, should be repaired quickly to prevent further decay, maintain order, and reduce crime. Destruction in urban areas is therefore inextricably linked to crime and causes it. A seemingly