An Apostle's Screed

This article begins with some brief observations about the current state of sociology and the field of criminology with which it has close ties. These remarks center on a central complaint, to wit, that much of what passes for theory in sociology and criminology is fuzzy and imprecise. The article then turns to a more basic issue, namely the endemic problem of flawed writing in criminology. Bad writing in criminology and criminal justice is attributable to ineptitude, sloth, and hubris. Finally, because this is an institutional rather than an individual problem, organized efforts will be required in order to ameliorate it.