William J. Chambliss (sociologist)

William J. Chambliss was a sociologist who studied how society's laws and rules influence behavior, particularly focusing on crime and inequality. He is well known for his research on how social factors, such as class and power, affect who gets labeled as a criminal. His famous "Saints and Roughnecks" study showed how perceptions and social status can shape people's future opportunities. Chambliss's work highlights that crime and deviance are often linked to social structures and that those in power can influence which behaviors are criminalized.