Nils Christie

Nils Christie (24 February 1928 – 27 May 2015) was a Norwegian sociologist and criminologist. He was a professor of criminology at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo from 1966. Among his books is Pinens begrensning (Limits to Pain) from 1981, which has been translated into eleven languages. His work Fangevoktere i konsentrasjonsleire (Prison Guards in Concentration Camps, 1952) was selected for the Norwegian Sociology Canon in 2009–2011. He received an honorary degree from the University of Copenhagen. Christie is well known for his longstanding criticism of drug prohibition, industrial society, and prisons.
He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Nils Christie was awarded the 2001 Fritt Ord Freedom of Expression Prize "for his original and independent contributions to the Norwegian and international social debate."

Select bibliography

• Fangevoktere i konsentrasjonsleire (Prison Guards in Concentration Camps, 1952)
• Hvis skolen ikke fantes (1971)
• Pinens begrensning (1981)
  • Limits to Pain (1981)
• Den gode fiende: Narkotikapolitikk i Norden (with Kettil Bruun, 1985)
• Kriminalitetskontrol som industri: På vej mod GULAG, vestlig stil? (1996)
  • Crime Control as Industry: Towards GULAGs, Western Style? (2000)
• En passende mengde kriminalitet (2004)
  • A Suitable Amount of Crime (2004)