Richard Quinney is an American sociologist, writer, and photographer known for his philosophical and critical approach to crime and social justice. Quinney grew up on a farm in Walworth County, Wisconsin. After earning his PhD in sociology from the University of Wisconsin, he taught at several universities on the East Coast and in the Midwest. He was awarded the Edwin Sutherland Award in 1984 by the American Society of Criminology for his contributions to criminological theory. He is currently professor emeritus of sociology at Northern Illinois University.