ABSTRACT
Convict criminology emerged in the early 1990s and has been variously referred to as a school, movement, group, organization and/or network, with its primary concern being the belief that the convict voice was not adequately acknowledged in both academic and policy-related research. Since its beginnings, convict criminology has drawn attention to a range of problems created by the criminal justice apparatus and defenders of the status quo. Convict criminologists have advised and mentored many convicts and ex-convicts at different stages of their prison and academic careers. These individuals (both men and women) are diverse in background, including African-Americans, Hispanics and members of the LGBT community. Throughout its history, convict criminology has sustained numerous criticisms, both internally and externally. These have included a perception that convict criminology lacks objectivity, that there is a tendency to overgeneralize, and the possibility that contributors to convict criminology are mediocre in academic stature.
