Sociology and criminology & law are as relevant as ever to current problems in our communities, the state of Florida, the country, and the world. These disciplines are vital to producing knowledge to support actions and policies to address those issues.
Sociology seeks to better understand social changes and social differences. We are living in a moment of debates about many social issues. Sociological research can help to inform dialogue by offering diverse theoretical perspectives and large bodies of evidence and insights. This applies to discussions of social inequalities related to racism, sexism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and more. Sociology is also critical to examining and understanding debates about changing conceptions of gender, relationships and families, communities and institutions. In addition, sociological research is pertinent to many current policy concerns, such as immigration, health care, taxation, energy, work and family issues, and education.
Criminology and law researchers similarly work to address persistent social problems, especially crime and the application of law and justice, through theory and building research knowledge. The US is now on the waning end of a mass incarceration boom and crime in most places is decreasing. Yet, the public still fears victimization. In addition, policy regulating the practices and effects of the criminal and juvenile justice systems is consistently a point of societal debate. Criminologists help inform this debate and the public by studying causes and reactions to crime and examining the application of law and the effectiveness of the justice system, including policing, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice.
Importantly, sociological and criminological research also inform instruction, providing research-driven knowledge to our students and encouraging students to think critically about social problems and the responses to them. Our classes provide safe environments for the exchange of diverse opinions and experiences, mediated by theory, data and findings, all of which receive critical examination. We also encourage our students to learn from those who live and work in different sectors of society, through research, internships, and observation in their daily lives.
We invite everyone to join us in our shared endeavors in sociology and criminology & law: to better understand the societies and institutions around us, and each other!
Stephen Perz, Chair
Jodi Lane, Associate Chair