Edwin Sutherland was an American sociologist, best known for his work in the field of criminology. He introduced the concept of white-collar crime, which refers to non-violent crimes committed for financial gain by individuals in their professional lives. Sutherland's research emphasized that these crimes often go unpunished compared to street crimes. Sutherland served as a professor at several universities, including University of Chicago and Indiana University. His influential book, "Principles of Criminology," published in 1939, laid the groundwork for modern criminological theory. He is recognized for his contributions to understanding the social context of crime and deviance.