NCJ Number
115022
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: (July 1988) Pages: 263-276
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Donald R. Cressey was a humanistic, liberal criminologist who was committed to the ideals and goals of science.
Abstract
Although he was first and foremost concerned with the advancement of basic criminological knowledge, he also endeavored to spell out some of the positive uses to which that knowledge might be put, particularly in his commentaries on the implications of the theory of differential association for correctional intervention and practice. He took a dim view of recent trends in criminology in which some have turned away from the basic task of pursuit of knowledge and toward advocacy of policies of terror directed at offenders and potential lawbreakers. (Author abstract)