NCJ Number
53552
Date Published
1978
Length
975 pages
Annotation
SELECTED READINGS ON CRIMINOLOGY AND THE THEORY AND CAUSES OF CRIME PRESENT A RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS AND IDEOLOGICAL BELIEFS THAT INCLUDES BOTH EMPIRICAL STUDIES AND MORE DESCRIPTIVE READINGS ON CRIME IN SOCIETY.
Abstract
THE FIRST SECTION DEALS WITH THE FIELD OF CRIMINOLOGY AND PROVIDES ORIENTATION MATERIAL ON CRIMINOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE, WITH ATTENTION TO BOTH THE LEGAL DEFINITIONS OF CRIME AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND SPECULATIONS BY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ON THE NATURE OF LAW. THE FOLLOWING SELECTIONS OUTLINE THE ROLE AND DEFICIENCIES OF CRIME STATISTICS, EMPHASIZING HOW SUCH FIGURES ARE GENERATED, WHAT THEY MEAN, AND HOW THEY ARE USED AND MISUSED. THE NEXT SECTION HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES AND DEALS WITH SEVERAL RELEVANT OR WIDELY DISCUSSED THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS OF CRIME, INCLUDING OPPORTNITY THEORY, LABELING THEORY, AND MARXIST ECONOMIC THEORIES. THE FOUR SECTIONS THAT FOLLOW EXAMINE SUGGESTED CAUSES OF CRIME AND PROVIDE SEVERAL ARTICLES EACH ON THE BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THOUGHT TO CONTRIBUTE TO CRIME. NEXT, PROFESSIONAL AND ORGANIZED CRIME ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO SUCH SKILLED AND LUCRATIVE ACTIVITIES AS LOANSHARKING, NUMBERS, AND HORSE RACE FIXING AND THE REALITY OF SEVERAL OF THE MORE SPECTACULAR AND COLORFUL CLAIMS ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF A NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY CALLED THE 'MAFIA.' THE LAST FOUR SECTIONS EMPHASIZE CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES WHICH HAVE COME INTO EXISTENCE WITHIN THE LAST DECADE (I.E., 1968-1978) OR ELSE HAVE BEEN THE OBJECT OF INCREASED PUBLIC CONCERN OR FEAR. SEVERAL ARTICLES ARE INCLUDED ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: (1) DRUG-RELATED CRIMES, (2) SEX OFFENSES, (3) WHITE-COLLAR AND CORPORATE CRIME, AND (4) SUCH CONTEMPORARY CRIMES AS COMPUTER ABUSE, RECORD PIRACY, SHOPLIFTING, AND NUCLEAR THEFT. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE INCLUDED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED AT THE CLOSE OF EACH ARTICLE. SEE ALSO NCJ 53553-53567, 31968, 39470, 36253, 36243, 43578, 26028, 36976, 35858, 32464, 45623, AND 47922. (KBL)