The Benefits of Social Control

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

Abstract

Contemporary criminology is significantly influenced by “critical” perspectives that often portray policing and social control as inherently oppressive and illegitimate. While offering valuable critical insights into inequalities within formal social control, these perspectives are frequently detached from the realities of crime and criminal offending. The dominance of such perspectives has fostered misconceptions about the value of studying criminal offending and the origins of policing, narrowed the scope of empirical inquiry, and created a “spiral of silence” regarding established scientific facts. This presentation examines prevailing anti-police and anti-social control biases, exploring their impact on research questions, policy discussions, and criminology’s ability to address the real-world crime control challenges faced by disadvantaged communities. A more balanced, empirically grounded approach is essential for ensuring criminology remains a policy-relevant, applied social science.

Author

• John MacDonald, University of Pennsylvania