NCJ Number
46039
Date Published
1978
Length
526 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF BASIC THEORIES AND IDEOLOGIES FOR BEGINNING STUDENTS UTILIZES TWO CENTRAL THEMES: HISTORY OF CRIMINOLOGY AND SOCIETAL REACTIONS TO CRIME.
Abstract
CRIME, CRIMINALITY, AND CRIMINOLOGY CAN NOT BE UNDERSTOOD WITHOUT GIVING ATTENTION TO THE IDEAS, ACTIONS, AND EVENTS OF THE PAST. SOCIETAL REACTIONS, THAT IS, THE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, ARE ALSO IMPORTANT TO THE STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY. PROMINENT CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES, ALONG WITH GENERAL POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES ARE DISCUSSED HISTORICALLY UP THROUGH CONTEMPORARY RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY. TECHNICAL TERMS AND JARGON ARE LIMITED TO AVOID CONFUSION. CRIMINAL STATISTICS ARE ANALYZED CONCERNING HOW THEY ARE USED, HOW THEY ARE PRODUCED, WHAT THEY TELL, AND HOW THEIR LIMITATIONS MAY BE OVERCOME. CRIMINAL OFFENDERS ARE DESCRIBED WITH SPECULATIONS ON THEIR MOTIVATIONS. SUCH CRIME CATEGORIES AS INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, OCCUPATIONAL CRIMES, AND CRIMINAL SEXUALITY ARE REVIEWED, INCLUDING THE ATTITUDES OF SOCIETY TO SUCH OFFENSES. THE HISTORY OF THE ROLE OF POLICE IN SOCIETY AND THE USE AND ABUSE OF POLICE AUTHORITY ARE CONSIDERED. THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, BOTH JUVENILE AND ADULT, IS DESCRIBED. PUNISHMENT, DETERRENCE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF CRIME TO PUBLIC POLICY ARE DISCUSSED. SINCE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) DATA DIFFER FROM COMMON LAW CRIMINAL LAW DEFINITIONS, AN APPENDIX DEFINES FBI CATEGORIES. INDEXES OF AUTHORS AND OF SUBJECTS ARE PROVIDED. REFERENCES FOLLOW EACH CHAPTER. (AJJ)