Conceptualizing criminal justice theory

In an attempt to advance the development and generalization of criminal justice theory as a whole, we propose a framework for classifying specific criminal justice theories. We then present an interpretive history of the academic field of criminal justice to demonstrate how the field can be organized within that framework. We conclude by describing some lessons about theory learned in the field of criminology and applying these lessons to the field of criminal justice. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual meetings of the American Society of Criminology, held in Toronto on November 17–20, 1999. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual meetings of the American Society of Criminology, held in Toronto on November 17–20, 1999. Notes An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual meetings of the American Society of Criminology, held in Toronto on November 17–20, 1999.