Criminology Theory: Selected Classic Readings

by Frank Williams III, Marilyn McShane

Overview

This highly acclaimed criminology text presents an up-to-date review of rational choice theories, including deterrence, shaming, and routine activities. It also incorporates current examples of deterrence research regarding domestic violence, drunk driving, and capital punishment, and features thought-provoking discussion of the relativity of crime. The authors explore the crime problem, its context, and causes of crime. The organization of the text reflects the fact that the etiology of crime must be at the heart of criminology. It examines contemporary efforts to redefine crime by focusing on family violence, hate crimes, white-collar misconduct with violent consequences, and other forms of human behavior often neglected by criminologists. Extensive discussion of evolving laws is included, and while the prevalence of the scientific method in the field of criminology is highlighted, the impact of ideology on explanations of crime is the cornerstone of the book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138136410
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/29/2016
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	366
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Frank P. Williams III has taught at departments in five universities and has published a substantial number of articles, research monographs, government reports, and books. He has served as a department chair (Cal State, San Bernardino), Assistant Director for Research (Sam Houston State), and Coordinator of the Doctoral Program (Prairie View A&M), and directed numerous research projects. He has served on or been elected to the boards of national scholarly organizations, chaired a major division of a national organization, and chaired/served on numerous national/regional committees. He has been an editor or deputy/associate editor for several journals and publisher’s book and monograph series.

Marilyn D. McShane is currently a professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston, Downtown. Over her career, she has taught in doctoral, masters and undergraduate programs, as well as served as a program director in the Texas Department of Corrections. She has also been a department chair and director of both academic centers and institutes, held office and served on a number of national criminal justice professional organization boards, and served as a reviewer of research proposals for the National Institute for Justice. She has a substantial number of publications and research and training grants and has been involved in editorial work for book series and journals for the past 20 years. Her publications include encyclopedias, several books, and numerous journal articles. Correctional issues, criminological theory, and management are among her academic interests.

Table of Contents

Section I: THE FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN CRIMINOLOGY CLASSICAL SCHOOL Cesare Beccaria On Crimes and Punishments CLASSICAL SCHOOL Jeremy Bentham Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation POSITIVE SCHOOL Cesare Lombroso Crime: Its Causes and Remedies Section II: THE CHICAGO SCHOOL AND DERIVATIVES ECOLOGICAL THEORY Clifford R. Shaw & Henry D. McKay Juvenile Delinquency and Urban Areas CULTURE CONFLICT THEORY Thorsten Sellin The Conflict of Conduct Norms DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY Edwin H. Sutherland Differential Association SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Ronald L. Akers A Social Learning Perspective on Deviant Behavior Section III: STRAIN AND SUBCULTURE THEORIES ANOMIE THEORY Robert K. Merton Social Structure and Anomie SUBCULTURE THEORY Albert K. Cohen Delinquent Boys DIFFERENTIAL OPPORTUNITY THEORY Richard A. Cloward & Lloyd E. Ohlin Delinquency and Opportunity FOCAL CONCERN THEORY Walter B. Miller Lower Class Culture as a Generating Milieu of Gang Delinquency Section IV: LABELING THEORY LABELING THEORY Howard S. Becker Outsiders LABELING THEORY Edwin M. Lemert Secondary Deviance Section V: CONFLICT THEORIES CONFLICT THEORY Richard Quinney The Social Reality of Crime CONFLICT THEORY Steven Spitzer Toward a Marxian Theory of Deviance CONFLICT THEORY Austin T. Turk Political Criminality Section VI: SOCIAL CONTROL THEORIES TECHNIQUES OF NEUTRALIZATION Gresham M. Sykes & David Matza Techniques of Neutralization CONTAINMENT THEORY Walter C. Reckless A New Theory of Delinquency and Crime SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY Travis Hirschi A Control Theory of Delinquency Section VII: CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ROUTINE ACTIVITY THEORY Lawrence E. Cohen & Marcus Felson A Routine Activity Approach FEMALE CRIMINALITY Dorie Klein The Etiology of Female Crime