The Center for Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Iowa is an interdisciplinary forum for research and training in the areas of crime, law, mental health, corrections, and social control. Although the Center is housed within the Sociology Department, we are building ties to other units that share this research interest, including the Law School, Psychology Department, Medical School (Psychiatry), Political Science, History, and Social Work. We have found a critical mass of faculty across campus who share an interest in law and crime. The center capitalizes on natural strengths at the University of Iowa. The objectives of the Center are to promote scholarly research on law, crime, and deviance, to stimulate interdisciplinary research ties, and to train graduate students in multidisciplinary studies of law and crime.

To obtain these objectives, the Center has two major features:

  • The Colloquium Series on crime, law, and social control allows affiliates and outside speakers to present their ongoing research. This offers a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue and feedback on research issues. Follow the links at right to read about past and upcoming events.
  • The Graduate Training Program helps train graduate students by providing research training seminars, funding opportunities, research assistantships, graduate seminars, and collaborative research projects between faculty and graduate students. In addition, the Center provides students with an environment conducive to study, including quiet office space and excellent computing resources.