Criminological Highlights is designed to provide an accessible look at some of the more interesting, high quality, criminological research that is currently being published. Its focus is on research that is policy-relevant.
The project began in September 1997 with funding from the Department of Justice Canada. Issues are released approximately every 2-3 months with each volume consisting of six issues. The Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies gratefully acknowledges the Department of Justice, Canada, for its current funding of this project.
It is produced by a group of about a dozen academics including faculty from the University of Toronto and nearby universities, doctoral students at the University of Toronto, and the CrimSL librarian. The project is directed by Anthony Doob and Rosemary Gartner.
We regularly scan approximately 120 journals and other research reports. In addition to those papers that we find systematically, we often get other papers recommended to us by readers of Criminological Highlights.
In choosing papers for Criminological Highlights we look for papers that are both methodologically sound and which would be likely to be interesting and informative to those interested in criminal justice policy.
Criminological Highlights is not designed to create a “summary” of all published research in criminology, nor is Highlights meant to be a substitute for a proper “review” of what is known in a particular policy area. Rather, the publication is meant to include summaries of findings that should be part of the “general education” of those interested in criminal justice policy.
Views – expressed or implied – in Criminological Highlights are not necessarily those of Department of Justice Canada.
Special Issues:
Probation and Community Sanctions: A Collection of Research Findings from Criminological Highlights. Compiled from Criminological Highlights by Maria Jung; April 2021.
Evaluating the Benefits of Pardons: An Overview of Criminological Highlights Summaries of Research Related to Pardons. Compiled from Criminological Highlights by Maria Jung, Jane B. Sprott, and Anthony N. Doob; August 2020.
Understanding the Impact of Police Stops. A Report Prepared for the Toronto Police Services Board Based on Research Findings from Criminological Highlights. Compiled by Anthony N. Doob and Rosemary Gartner; January 2017.
Research on Public Confidence in the Criminal Justice System. A Compendium of Research Findings from Criminological Highlights.
The Effects of Imprisonment: Specific Deterrence and Collateral Effects. Research summaries compiled from Criminological Highlights by Anthony N. Doob, Cheryl Marie Webster, Rosemary Gartner; February 2014
Issues related to Harsh Sentences and Mandatory Minimum Sentences: General Deterrence and Incapacitation. Research summaries compiled from Criminological Highlights by Anthony N. Doob, Cheryl Marie Webster, Rosemary Gartner; February 2014
Sex Offenders and Society’s Responses to Them. Research summaries compiled from Criminological Highlights by Anthony N. Doob and Rosemary Gartner; December 2013