This author contends that the field of critical criminology has been plagued by a process of self-reflection and has become confused by its varied approaches to the study of crime, criminality, and crime control. Citing paradigmatic changes that have occurred within the field of critical criminology since the mid-1970’s, the author traces the history of the discipline’s approach to researching and studying crime and its consequences. After recounting the approaches of the social reaction theorists and Marxist criminologists, the author argues that criminology’s reformative agenda has left the discipline with a focus on deconstruction and governmental agendas. Arguing that it is becoming harder and harder to find the relevance in criminology’s perspectives, the author maintains that critical criminologists need to rethink their roles and to collaborate with progressive social movements. References