Roundtable: The Historians’ Role in Criminal Justice Research: Past, Present, and Future

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

This roundtable brings together scholars who have trained and taught in Departments of Criminology, Legal Studies, and History to discuss the ways in which historiographical methods and perspectives fit within the widely-conceived interests and concerns of criminologists. Working off of a ‘State of the Field’ paper that posits a number of potential explanations as to why Departments of Criminology employ so few trained historians, participants will discuss the practical and cultural barriers to field entry facing scholars trained in the liberal arts tradition. Participants will also discuss the potential value of better integrating historiographical notions into the field of criminology, touching on the ways in which historical methods and insights profoundly influence both classic and modern criminal justice scholarship. Lastly, participants will speak to potential actions that both criminologists and historians might take to break down disciplinary barriers, thereby better integrating historical methodologies and perspectives into criminology’s broader discourses moving forward. This roundtable hopes to draw not only criminologists and historians, but also sociologists, psychologists, and political scientists who are looking to better understand how they might employ historical literature and methods in their own future work and teaching.

Sub Unit

• Area XIII: Roundtable Sessions

Individual Presentations

• What We Mean By ‘Interdisciplinary’: The Historians’ Place in the Field of Criminology - Alexander Tepperman, University of Florida

Chair

• Kyle Bridge, University of Florida

Discussants

• Randolph Roth, The Ohio State University

• Ashley Rubin, University of Toronto

• Jeffrey McIllwain, San Diego State University

• Eric Rise, University of Delaware