Linking Time and Place: Dynamic Contextualism and the Future of Criminological Inquiry

Abstract

In this article, the author proposes dynamic contextualism as a promising paradigm for future criminological inquiry. This approach recognizes and attempts to join developmental and historical insights, event structures and community context, qualitative narratives and causal explanation, and ultimately, time and place. At core, the author focuses on the unfolding of human lives in particular contexts, but argues that one must also come to grips with social change and the simultaneous—sometimes asynchronous—changing of lives and macrolevel forces (e.g., community, societal). In making his case, the author highlights the key limitations of current community-level and longitudinal approaches, and then presents concrete alternative strategies for future research designs.