NCJ Number
182527
Date Published
1998
Length
477 pages
Annotation
This book is intended to help students understand the nature of crime and some of the causative factors.
Abstract
Part I introduces students to the definition of crime, concept of law, social controls, and how crime is measured. Sutherland's definition of crime is used: "Behavior that is prohibited by the state as an injury to the state and against which the state may react, at least as the last resort, by punishment." Part II provides the theoretical approaches to crime causation, including the classical approach, the positivist and biological approaches, the sociological approach, the psychological and psychiatric approaches, and the conflict/critical approach. Part III discusses crimes against persons, property, and special crimes (gangs, hate crimes, child abuse, spousal abuse, and stalking); it also addresses punishments and victimology. Part IV introduces students to all aspects of the criminal justice system. This discussion is designed to provide the reader with a "blueprint" of where we have been, where we are, and where we might be going in understanding and responding to crime. Each chapter contains a statement of study objectives, a summary, and discussion questions. A glossary, a subject index, and a name index