Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist whose theories and methods laid the foundation for modern sociology. Durkheim's work also had a profound effect on the field of criminology. Durkheim was born on April 15, 1858, in Epinal, France. He attended the Ecole Normal Superieure in Paris, the most prestigious teachers' college in France. While in school, Durkheim was attracted to science and social science. His interest in science made him impatient with his instructors, who focused more on general philosophical concepts. He graduated in 1882 and taught at a string of provincial schools over the next five years. In 1885, he took a leave of absence and went to Germany, where he studied psychology. In 1887, he was appointed a lecturer at the University of Bordeaux and remained as a professor of social philosophy until 1902.

During this period Durkheim began to publish his sociological works. Unlike others in the field, he did not...