Striking Out on Its Own: The Divergence of Criminology and Criminal Justice from Sociology

Abstract

An increasing debate over whether criminology and criminal justice (CCJ) should be viewed as an independent academic area has evolved over the past 20 years. Some scholars have argued that CCJ is best understood as a subfield of sociology, while others have proposed it deserves independent status. This paper provides a brief history of this debate and offers key rubrics used by recent scholars to evaluate CCJ’s standing within academia. By assessing data such as graduation statistics, program placement, faculty degree area, and scholarly productivity, we contrast CCJ with sociology. Our findings offer strong support for the position that CCJ is no longer a minor specialization within sociology, but rather a robust, growing, and increasingly independent academic area.