The Oppression of Criminological Knowledge

• In Event: Advancing Viewpoint Diversity and Open Inquiry in American Criminology

Abstract

Academic disciplines shape not only what is studied but also what is deemed acceptable to study. This presentation examines the "social control of criminology"—the formal and informal mechanisms that regulate the production of ideas and evidence within the field. From retractions and editorial decisions to peer review dynamics and funding priorities, criminology increasingly governs itself in ways that suppress deviant perspectives and findings that contradict the prevailing narrative. Drawing on recent cases, this talk explores how these mechanisms operate, their implications for scientific integrity, and potential reforms to foster a more open and empirically driven discipline.

Authors

• Jukka Savolainen, Wayne State University

• Walter Forrest, University of Limerick