NCJ Number
80060
Date Published
1981
Length
452 pages
Annotation
This introductory text on criminology discusses the nature and scope of crime, theories and explanations of crime, criminal behavior, prevention and control of crime, and corrections (rehabilitation and resocialization).
Abstract
A discussion of the nature and scope of crime considers definitions of crime, the criminal, and criminology, along with crime statistics and the extent, impact, and cost of crime in the United States. An overview of theories and explanations of crime explores the development of criminological theory, wider-origin theories, immediate-origin theories and delinquency, and the theory and nature of the criminal act and actor. The classifications of criminal behavior probe violent personal crime, property crime, organized crime, crimes at the 'citadels of power,' and crimes against public order and sexual mores. The classification of offenders and victims and victimology are also discussed. Consideration of the prevention and control of crime involves concepts of crime prevention; the police and crime prevention; arrest, charge, and plea; and the trial. The analysis of corrections covers the sentencing process, the purpose and methods of corrections, misdemeanant corrections, institutions, and community-based corrections. The directions and outlook for crime, criminals, and criminology are discussed in the concluding section. References and relevant tabular data accompany each major section; name and subject indexes are provided.