Nils Christie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nils Christie
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Nils Christie speaking at Utah Valley State College in 2007
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| Born | 24 February 1928 |
| Died | 27 May 2015 (aged 87) |
| Citizenship | Norwegian |
| Awards | Fritt Ord Award (2001) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Criminology, Sociology |
Nils Christie (born February 24, 1928 – died May 27, 2015) was a well-known Norwegian sociologist and criminologist. A sociologist studies how people live together in groups and societies. A criminologist studies crime and why people commit it. Christie was a professor of criminology at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo. He spent his career teaching and writing about these important topics.
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Early Life and Family
Nils Christie was born in Oslo, Norway, on February 24, 1928. His parents were Ragnvald Christie and Ruth Hellum. He got married to Vigdis Margit Moe in 1951. Later, he married Hedda Giertsen.
His Work and Studies
Nils Christie finished high school in 1946. He then studied sociology at the University of Oslo, graduating in 1953. He earned a special degree called a "dr.philos." in 1959. His research for this degree looked at young Norwegian lawbreakers born in 1933. He compared them to other people born in the same year.
Becoming a Professor
Christie started working at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo in 1959. By 1966, he became a full professor of criminology there. He taught many students about crime, justice, and society.
Important Books and Ideas
Nils Christie wrote several important books. One famous book is Pinens begrensning, which means Limits to Pain. This book was published in 1981 and has been translated into eleven different languages. This shows how important his ideas were around the world.
Another important work was Fangevoktere i konsentrasjonsleire (Prison Guards in Concentration Camps), written in 1952. This book was chosen for the Norwegian Sociology Canon. This means it was recognized as one of the most important sociology books in Norway.
Awards and Recognition
Nils Christie received many honors for his work. He was given an honorary degree from the University of Copenhagen. This is a special award given to people who have made great contributions. He was also a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. This is a group of very smart people who are recognized for their knowledge.
In 2001, Nils Christie won the Fritt Ord Freedom of Expression Prize. He received this award for his original and independent ideas. These ideas helped shape important discussions in Norway and around the world.
