Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5th Edition

Taking a sociological perspective, CRIMINOLOGY: A SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING, 5/e offers award-winning coverage of criminology and highlights issues of race, ethnicity, gender and social class throughout. Designed in a four-color format, this edition includes a new chapter on classical and neoclassical theories, over 160 recent references and unique chapters on political crime and public opinion, crime and the media. Moving beyond simple “get tough” approaches, the book emphasizes the need to understand social causes of criminal behavior in order to significantly reduce it.

PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION

1.      Criminology and the Sociological Perspective

2.      Public Opinion, the New Media, and the Crime Problem

3.      The Measurement and Patterning of Criminal Behavior

4.      Victims and Victimization

PART TWO: EXPLAINING CRIME

5.      Classical and Neoclassical Perspectives

6.      Biological and Psychological Explanations

7.      Sociological Theories: Emphasis on Social Structure

8.      Sociological Theories: Emphasis on Social Process

9.      Sociological Theories: Critical Perspectives

PART THREE: CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS

10.  Violent Crime: Homicide, Assault, and Robbery

11.  Violence Against Women

12.  Property and Crime Fraud

13.  White-Collar and Organized Crime

14.  Political Crime

15.  Consensual Crime

PART FOUR: CONTROLLING AND PREVENTING CRIME

16.  Policing; Dilemmas of Crime Control in a Democratic Society

17.  Prosecution and Punishment

18.  Conclusion: How Can We Reduce Crime?