When Farmers Offend -- Toward a Criminology of Food and Agriculture

• In Event: Criminology of Food and Agricultural Part II (Farmers as Offenders)

Abstract

There is a growing recognition among scholars in criminology and rural studies of the importance of examining various criminological dimensions of food and agriculture. This paper attempts to synthesize a very scattered literature on criminological issues associated with farming and in general, with food production. It summarizes the research on key issues -- farm animal abuse, abuse and trafficking of farm workers and slaughterhouse workers, violence in farm families, farmer violations of environmental and wildlife regulations (often as a form of rural protest), and the volume and cost of crimes committed against farm operations etc. -- and reviews recommendations for future research on crime, food and agriculture.

Author

• Joseph Donnermeyer, The Ohio State University