Criminological Ethnography: An Introduction

At a time when quantitative approaches continue to be preferred in the analysis of 21st Century crime and its control, James Treadwell makes a timely and compelling case for the continuing relevance and explanatory power of ‘Criminological Ethnography’. Written by one of the best Criminological Ethnographers in the business, this text reinvigorates the debate over the role of ethnography in the study of crime and criminal justice and will serve as an invaluable and insightful resource for both novice and seasoned ethnographers of criminological issues. -- Anthony Ellis, Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology, University of Salford

If the fundamental goal of criminology is to explain why crime occurs – rather than measure where, when and how often it occurs – we need to get out there into the real world and talk to the men, women and children who engage in it. Ethnography is the only research methodology that allows us to explore in detail human perceptions of criminal conduct, and without it our discipline would be much the poorer. In this wonderful book, Treadwell - one of criminology’s most celebrated ethnographers – offers a spirited defence of and a detailed guide to the art of ethnographic fieldwork… a must-read for undergraduate students in the social sciences, postgraduate students about to head out into the field and academics keen investigate the real world.

-- Professor Simon Winlow, Head of Criminology, Northumbria University