Division on Critical Criminology

2001 Annual Report

Prepared for the American Society of Criminology

Submitted by Dr. Walter S. DeKeseredy
Chair, Division on Critical Criminology
Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio
U.S.A.  45701
(740) 593-1376

February 4, 2002 

INTRODUCTION

            Defining critical criminology is the subject of much debate. Although various definitions of this term have been proposed, there is no widely accepted precise formulation. Still, as Brian D. MacLean and Dragan Milovanovic point out in the Foreword to their edited book Thinking Critically About Crime, "Critical can be viewed as an umbrella, giving cohesion to the work that falls under its spanse." Indeed, there is a wide array of empirical, theoretical, and political work done by members of the American Society of Criminology's (ASC) Division on Critical Criminology (DCC). For example, our members are interested in anarchistic, feminist, integrative, Marxist, peace-making, postmodernist and left realist criminology. Division members also focus heavily on key issues surrounding class, gender, race/ethnicity and heterosexism. Further, DCC affiliates regard major structural and cultural changes within society as essential steps to reducing criminality and to creating a more inclusive social order.

            The DCC was established in 1989 under the leadership of Susan Caringella-MacDonald and Robert Bohm. Over the past 13 years, the DCC has undergone many changes and has made numerous contributions to the ASC. The purpose of this report, however, is to provide in-depth information on DCC activities for the year 2001. It is to the issue of membership that I know turn.

MEMBERSHIP

            As of December 2001, 295 people belonged to the DCC. Thus, our membership has increased by approximately 100 since 1989, and we anticipate more growth in the near future.

DCC OFFICERS

            The new Officers for the DCC are:

Chair:                       Walter S. DeKeseredy, Ohio University
Vice Chair:                Claire Renzetti, St. Joseph's University
Secretary-Treasurer:  Jody Miller, University of Missouri-St. Louis
At Large Members:     Meda Chesney-Lind, University of Hawaii at Manoa
                                David Friedrichs, University of Scranton
                                Jayne Mooney, Middlesex University 

BUDGET

            The balance as of December 31, 2001 was $9,966.32. Sarah Hall informed me that there will be additional income for the month of January 2002, but the precise amount has not yet been determined.

DIVISION PUBLICATIONS

            Critical Criminology is the official refereed journal of the DCC and is published three times a year by Kluwer Academic Publishers. Jefferey T. Walker is the Editor-in-Chief, Paul Leighton is the North American Editor, and Jock Young is the European Editor. Note, too, that the Editorial Board consists of a large body of international scholars, including Dario Melossi, Ruth Jamieson, Julie Stubbs, Mark Israel, and myself.

            The DCC also publishes a newsletter titled The Critical Criminologist three times a year. Co-edited by Rick Matthews and Barbara Sims and financially supported by Ohio University and Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg, the newsletter includes announcements, advertisements, brief articles, and other information of interest to critical criminologists around the world. So does critcrim.org, a website managed by Ken Mentor. In addition to being the official website of the DCC, it also serves as the official website for the Academy of Criminal Justice Science's new Section on Critical Criminology.

DIVISION AWARDS

            The DCC honors select members with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Critical Criminologist of the Year Award, and Best Student Paper Award. This year, Karlene Faith won the first award, Paul Leighton the second one, and the Awards Committee chose not to give a Best Student Paper Award this year.

2002 ASC PROGRAM COMMITTEE

            The following designated members of the DCC will serve on the 2002 ASC Program Committee:

Walter S. DeKeseredy, Ohio University
Gregg Barak, Eastern Michigan University
Mark Hamm, Indiana State University
Ken Mentor, New Mexico State University
Martin D. Schwartz, Ohio University
Barbara Sims, Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg
Jim Thomas, Northern Illinois University

CONCLUSION

            Like other divisions of the ASC, the DCC is what Brian D. MacLean and Dragan Milovanovic refer to as a "vibrant international organization" Members are consistently involved in many exciting and important activities, and the DCC always welcomes new members, including those who do not identify themselves as critical criminologists. Further, the DCC looks forward to working closely with the other divisions and the Executive Council of the ASC to help make this organization more visible around the world. It should also be noted that the DCC cannot agree more with Drew Humphries who recently stated that she would like to see "the ASC become a model for other professions in recruiting, supporting, and then recognizing the work of scholars from minority, racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds" (see The Criminologist, Vol. 26, No. 6, p. 4).