A Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice researcher’s book has earned top honors from the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Historical Criminology.
The division named Associate Professor Steven Zane’s book ‘Between Medicine and Criminology’ as its 2025 Book of the Year. Among other plaudits, the ASC said the book serves “as an exemplar for future criminological historians.”
Zane shares the award with his co-authors, Brandon Welsh of Northeastern University and Scott Podolsky of Harvard Medical School.
The book examines the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study, an expansive study that aimed to prevent delinquency in young, underprivileged boys. The study began in 1935 and was led by Richard Cabot Clark, a professor of medicine and social ethics at Harvard University.
“It was the first evaluation of a crime prevention program,” Zane said of the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study. “It was also highly rigorous and the first study of its kind to use randomized, controlled experimentation.”
The study began in 1935 but Zane said Cabot and others collected so much information that it continues to be of value decades later.
Thomas Blomberg, dean of the CCCJ, said Zane’s work shines a light on an emerging field.
“Steven’s work is at the forefront of historical criminology,” he said. “Our college and our students benefit from the contributions he makes as a member of our faculty every day. It is a wonderful thing to see that the ASC recognize his work too.”
Zane credited his co-authors and said he hopes that their work represents an early step in what will be a growing area of study.
“It is great that historical criminology continues to emerge as an important and respected part of our discipline,” he said. “There has been some really good work recently looking back at the path of our discipline. I am really pleased to be recognized in that group.”
“Between Medicine and Criminology: Richard Cabot and the Making of the Cambridge-Somerville Youth Study,” is published by Oxford University Press.
For more information, visit criminology.fsu.edu.