NCJ Number
126561
Date Published
1991
Length
741 pages
Annotation
This basic criminology text, intended primarily for undergraduate students, is based on the assumption that explanations of crime must provide the core foundation for studying crime and the criminal justice system.
Abstract
Although primarily sociological in orientation, the text entertains perspectives associated with other disciplines. The first unit is comprised of five chapters and orients the student to criminology through a discussion of definitional issues and parameters and overviews of criminal law, the criminal justice system, crime statistics, and crime distribution. The seven chapters of the second unit constitute the most detailed segment of the text and examine a diverse range of crime theories. Consideration is given to early theories of crime and to biogenic, psychogenic, social structure, social process, social reaction, contemporary neoclassical, and integrated theories of crime. The third and final unit contains five chapters that focus on crime types, specifically female crime and delinquency, violent crime, economic crime, crimes without victims, and political crime. Crimes without victims refer to the abortion controversy, narcotics offenses, prostitution, and gambling. Political crimes encompass assassinations, terrorism, conscientious objectors, and political crime by the state. Name, subject, and case indexes are included. References, tables, and figures