Definition edit

Drawing on Michael Buruway's (2005) advocacy for a “public sociology,” Uggen & Inderblitzen (2010) have argued that the energies of criminologists should be similarly directed. They suggest such efforts have the potential to not only reinvigorate the discipline but reshape public debates, and even policy, in matters that are simultaneously contentions and divorced from an empirical grounding. The response to their clarion call has been generally positive, however several authors have voiced a sense of caution, whether it be out of a sense that the discipline itself has several issues that first must be addressed (Rock 2010), a current lack of resources for the project (Land 2010), the indifference of policy makers to criminological insights (Tonry 2010), or a parallel indifference in academic criminology to policy-making issues (Mears 2010).

Contemporary Examples edit

There are many current examples of public criminology which are being done in real time or are seeking to educate the public about public criminology.

  • Newsmaking Criminology- Due to the media influence on public perception of crime it is important for criminologist to get involved in news making and form relationships with journalist to inform the public about criminology related topics as well as to understand how media is made. This is done by his radio coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial several times a week and developing relationships with reporters. By doing so, people will become informed on public policies and allow newsmaking criminologists to shape crime and justice. [1]
  • Public Criminology within the academy- Sanders; Sanders explores the ways in which public criminology can and should be taken from a simple discussion into a plan of action by bringing it to the classroom and giving students the means to "'do something'" in the community rather than researching the subject. [2]
  • Michelle Inderbitzen currently does a lot of work talking to prisoners and working to repair the criminal justice system. A blog about Public Criminology by Chris Uggen, Michelle Inderbitzin, and Sara Wakefield[3]
  • Center for Public Criminology; an area in Arizona State University school of criminology dedicated to break the veil between the public and those professionals in the criminal justice field by educating both while also addressing the stigmas and concerns that the members in each respected group has by working together to make a change. The website has multiple avenues of information that are available for access. It discusses how ASU is handling gun violence; the breaking down of the wall in between Law Enforcement and the community; ways that the graduates are trying to get involved in the field; Criminologist that are in the area reaching out to make a difference; articles that are mainly focused on facts and research that anyone in the community, or around the world can access. It also touches on how the department is making new developments in their research and they are trying to share it with the other criminologist. They are taking the learning not just in a traditional way, but also making new developments to make large changes. [4] Cfairwal (talk) 15:45, 8 November 2018 (UTC)

Luke's Peer Review: I think you guys are doing a really good job at explaining what is happening in today's terms and standards. I do think that you have to be careful because a lot of which you are touching on is repetitive in my opinion on the background's group information. 15lschriever (talk) 13:38, 15 November 2018 (UTC)

Sources edit

  1. ^ Barak, Gregg (May 2007). "Doing newsmaking criminology from within the academy". Theoretical Criminology. 11 (2): 191–207. doi:10.1177/1362480607075847. ISSN 1362-4806. S2CID 143610947.
  2. ^ Sanders, Carrie B.; Eisler, Lauren (2014-10-15). "The Public Would Rather Watch Hockey! The Promises and Institutional Challenges of 'Doing' Public Criminology within the Academy". Radical Criminology (4): 37–66. ISSN 1929-7912.
  3. ^ Inderbitzen, Michelle (May 17, 2016). "Public Criminology". The Society Pages.
  4. ^ "Center for Public Criminology". Arizona State University.