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Criminology

A researcher working in the field of criminology can often be faced by an alarming variety of resources when surveying the work that has already been done. This difficulty can be increased by the fact that compared to quantitative research, non-quantitative procedures for gathering data are themselves numerous and varied. Such procedures include semi-structured interviews, focus groups discussions, field notes and documentary sources. Listed below are a number of key online resources that exemplify this. Users should also consult the more up-to-date Thematic guide: Crime and social control

ESDS Qualidata Resources

To begin with there are the data collections already preserved by ESDS Qualidata. These examples illustrate diverse fields of enquiry and methodologies:

Folk Devils and Moral Panics, The Creation Of the Mods and Rockers, 1964-1967, Cohen, S.
The focus of this study was on the genesis and development of the moral panic and social typing associated with the 1960s phenomenon of Mods and Rockers. It looked at the ways in which their deviant behaviour was perceived and conceptualised; the modes through which these images were transmitted and the ways in which agents of social control reacted. Research materials include: in-depth and unstructured interview transcripts; participant observation field notes and press clippings.

The Effects of Long-Term Imprisonment, 1966-1975, Cohen, S. and Taylor, L.
This collection of data includes material generated by a 1967-1971 study on the effects of long-term imprisonment which centred on Durham prison's E-Wing. There is also later material concerning a proposed follow-up study of the same group of men as they were dispersed throughout the prison system. Problems with gaining Home Office approval for continued access to these men caused the planned follow-up study to be abandoned. An experience discussed at length in their chapter in 'Doing Sociological Research', Bell and Newby 1977.

Policing, Cultural Change and 'Structures of Feeling' in Post-War England, 1945-1999, Loader, I.
This research drew on recent work in social theory, anthropology and social history to examine how policing serves as a vehicle through which people understand the society they live in, and interpret its past, present and possible futures. The material deposited comprises the focus group and oral history interviews made with various strata of the public ('citizens'), retired and long-serving police officers and a small number of 'key players' in post-war policing debates.

Conflicts and Violence in Prison, 1998-2000, Edgar, K. and Martin, C.
This research sought to understand why a particular situation in a prison became violent, the consequences of violent confrontations for prisoners and staff and the ways in which conflicts were resolved without recourse to physical force. The study took place in four different types of establishment: a high security prison, a local prison, a women's prison, and a young offender institution. This data collection utilises both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Neighbourhood Boundaries, Social Disorganisation and Social Exclusion, 2000-2001, Atkinson, R.
This research investigated the underlying premises of UK neighbourhood crime policies through a comparative study of the responses to crime and disorder within both affluent and deprived neighbourhoods. It also looked at the extent and nature of informal means of social control utilised by their residents and how collective efficacy is related to social capital and social cohesion. Two Scottish cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, were included in the project, with one affluent area and one deprived area being chosen from each city. The research objectives were addressed using a mixed methodology combining quantitative and qualitative data.

Gender Difference, Anxiety and the Fear of Crime, 1995, Hollway, W., Jefferson, T.
This research focused on crime and its relation to risk of victimisation; the suggestion that high-risk groups report less fear than low-risk groups. The notion of anxiety as a mediating influence in the relationship between risk of victimisation and fear of crime was examined. The research suggests that the relationship between risk and fear of crime cannot be understood without theorising the multiple meanings attached to a person's identity. These biographies interweave the important effects of characteristics such as gender, age and local status with the meanings that these individuals have constructed.

More details of these collections may be obtained by consulting each indivudual catalogue entry. Other examples of crime-related data may also be gathered by a keyword search of the ESDS Data Catalogue for data on crime.

National Resources

Within the UK there are several key libraries, university departments and research groups concerned with the area of crime and justice. Some build on quantitative procedures, some on qualitative and others adopt an inter-disciplinary approach. These include:

Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS), University of Essex
The leading repository of quantitative data in the UK, ESDS holds a wide range of government and national data collections, such as the British Crime Survey, one of the largest series of surveys conducted in the UK, the Genevan Sex Crime Database (1440-1790) and the Young People and Crime Survey (1992-1993).

British Society of Criminology
The Society has a website detailing conferences publications as well as other information and web links related to its operation.

Home Office
The Home Office website includes pages dedicated to criminal justice, crime reduction and community policy. In addition there is a page detailing recent findings and publications of the research development directorate.

Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge
The Institute is most notable for the Radzinowicz Library of Criminology which houses the most comprehensive criminology collection in the United Kingdom and is internationally recognised as a world-class criminal justice resource. There are collections of historical books, reports, statistics, and other unbound material such as original research data deposited through ESDS Qualidata.

Applied Criminology Centre, University of Huddersfield
A research centre that has close links with the Home Office and the police force of its region. In particular it aims to identify proactive measures based on anticipated trends in crime and makes particular reference to its original key research interest - repeat victimisation.

Centre for Criminal Justice Studies, Department of Law, University of Leeds
This Centre pursues research into criminal justice systems and criminological issues. The staff of the Centre include lawyers and criminologists from a variety of disciplines. The Centre's work is also supported by twenty advisors who are drawn from senior positions within the police, judiciary, probation service and the prisons.

Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford
The Centre concerns itself with new research into patterns of crime. It is recognised as one of the UK’s foremost departments of criminology through the publication of high quality research on a wide range of topics from empirical, theoretical and historical perspectives, to victimisation, prisons, policing, restorative justice, parole, sentencing, the death penalty, probation and racial discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Centre for Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Wales, Bangor
This was one of the first research centres to focus on the comparison of international research. Comparative study takes place at a number of levels: international, rural and urban and cross-cultural comparisons being among the most important. The centre seeks to disseminate findings not only to the academic community but also to those affected by crime and the State agencies related to crime and justice.

Institute for Criminal Policy Research , King's College London
The Institute carries out multidisciplinary research into crime and the criminal justice system. Key audiences are managers and practitioners within the criminal justice system, other professionals working with offenders, and politicians. Research approaches incorporate both quantitative and qualitative methods. Main areas of interest are: the quality and effectiveness of public services and resources; the causes, consequences and prevention of offending; public attitudes towards crime and sentencing; the police; and community safety.

Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, King's College London
This Centre is a charity which aims to inform and educate about all aspects of crime and the criminal justice system from an objective standpoint. There is a particular emphasis on those engaged in the administration of criminal justice and the treatment of offenders. It also examines the principles and operation of the criminal justice process both in the United Kingdom and abroad. The CCJS produces various publications such as the British Journal of Criminology and maintains 'Justice Links' a criminology web portal.

Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science, University College, London
The world's first Institute of Security and Crime Science, established in 2001, is based in the School of Public Policy, the centre for research and teaching in policy and politics at UCL.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Recent projects funded by the ESRC include research on the London Riots: A Qualitative Study of the Role of Violence in Street Crime 2004-2006; The Internet, Political Science and Public Policy: Re-examining Collective Action, Governance and Citizen-Government Interactions in the Digital Era 2011-2014.

Howard League for Penal Reform
The Howard League is the oldest penal reform charity in the UK, entirely independent of government. The Howard League works for humane and rational reform of the penal system. It conducts research into criminal justice policy and practice, holding conferences and debates, publishing books and reports.

Joint Information Services Council (JISC) discussion list on criminology
JISC hosts an ongoing discussion list where one is able to join, contribute to the debates or view archives of past mails.

Sources for the History of Crime and the Law in England, The National Archives
A web version of an information sheet detailing resources of data and information noted in the National Register of Archives, many of which do not have a web presence. This includes archives, related organisations and publications.

Forum: Qualitative Social Research (FQS)
A multilingual online journal and newsletter aimed at promoting discussion and comments from qualitative researchers working in different countries and different disciplines including the subject of criminology.