ABSTRACT
This chapter begins the process of channelling citation research toward specialty areas in criminology and criminal justice through an examination of the most-cited scholars and works in criminological theory. It focuses on publications specifically devoted to theoretical issues and concerns. The chapter identifies the some most-cited scholars and the twenty-seven most-cited works. These lists of the most-cited scholars and works in criminological theory are compared to similar lists appearing in studies of general criminology and criminal justice journals and textbooks. Numerous articles have identified some of the most-cited scholars and works in criminology and criminal justice. Citation studies in criminology and criminal justice can be traced to Cole, Wolfgang, Figlio, Thornberry, and Shichor. The chapter deals with some thoughts about the importance of conducting citation research in criminological theory, along with other specialty areas in criminology and criminal justice. Besides criminological theory, other specialties that seem ripe for citation analysis include law enforcement, women and criminal justice, and critical criminology.
