Criminology: The Essentials

Anthony Walsh and Cody Jorgensen’s Criminology: The Essentials introduces students to major theoretical perspectives and topics in a concise, easy-to-read format. This straightforward overview of key subject areas in criminology thoroughly covers the most up-to-date advances in theory and research while challenging students to consider the applications of these theories and their policy implications. The Fourth Edition includes new topics, events, and developments in criminology. 

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. An Overview of Crime and Criminology What Is Criminology? What Is Crime? Criminality An Excursion Through the American Criminal Justice System A Short History of Criminology The Role of Theory in Criminology Ideology in Criminological Theory Connecting Criminological Theory and Social Policy Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 2. Measuring Crime and Criminal Behavior Categorizing and Measuring Crime and Criminal Behavior Uniform Crime Reports: Counting Crime Officially NIBRS: The “New and Improved” UCR Crime Victimization Survey Data and Its Problems Areas of Agreement Between the UCR and NCVS Self-Report Crime Surveys and Their Problems Crime Mapping White-Collar Crime: The FBI’s Financial Crimes Report The Dark Figure of Crime What Can We Conclude About the Three Main Measures of Crime in America? Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 3. Victimology: Exploring the Experience of Victimization The Emergence of Victimology Who Gets Victimized? Victimization in the Workplace and at School Human Trafficking Sexual Assault of Children: Who Gets Victimized? Domestic Violence Victimization Hate Crimes Identity Theft and Other Forms of Cybervictimization Victimization Theories Victimization and the Criminal Justice System Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 4. The Early Schools of Criminology Introduction: Preclassical Notions of Crime and Criminals The Classical School: The Calculating Criminal Rise of Positivism Deterrence and Choice: Pain Versus Gain Evaluation of the Classical and Early Positivist Schools Policy and Prevention: Implications of Deterrence Theories Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 5. Crime as Choice: Rationality, Emotion, and Criminal Behavior Returning to Classic Assumptions of Human Nature Rational Choice Theory Routine Activities Theory Cultural Criminology Emotions and Their Functions Policy and Prevention: Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 6. Social Structural Theories The Social Structural Tradition The Chicago School of Ecology The Anomie/Strain Tradition Extending Anomie: Subcultural Theories Street Gangs Today Evaluation of the Anomie/Strain and Subcultural Tradition Policy and Prevention: Implications of Social Structural Theories Summary Exercises/Discussion Questions Useful Internet Sites Chapter Terms 7. Social Process Theories The Social Process Tradition Differential Association Theory Social Learning Theory The Social Control Tradition Labeling Theory: The Irony of Social Reaction Policy and Prevention: Implications of Social Process Theories Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 8. Critical and Feminist Theories The Conflict Perspective of Society Karl Marx and Revolution Conflict Theory: Max Weber and Power and Conflict Other Critical Criminologies Evaluation of Critical Theories Feminist Criminology Evaluation of Feminist Theories Policy and Prevention Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 9. Psychosocial Theories: Individual Traits and Criminal Behavior Introduction: The Two “Great Pillars of Psychology” Intelligence Temperament and Personality Conscience and Arousal Glen Walters’s Lifestyle Theory The Antisocial Personalities Evaluation of the Psychosocial Perspective Policy and Prevention: Implications of Psychosocial Theories Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 10. Biosocial Approaches The Biosocial Approach Behavioral Genetics The Neurosciences Evolutionary Psychology Other Biosocial Risk Factors for Criminality Evaluation of the Biosocial Perspective Policy and Prevention: Implications of Biosocial Theories Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 11. Developmental Theories: From Delinquency to Crime to Desistance The Developmental Perspective: Continuity and Change Risk and Protective Factors for Serious Delinquency Major Developmental Theories Evaluation of Developmental Theories Policy and Prevention: Implications of Developmental Theories Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 12. Crimes of Violence Violence in History Murder Mass, Spree, and Serial Murder Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Gun Violence Theories of Violence Summary Exercises/Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 13. Terrorism What Is Terrorism? The Extent of Terrorism Domestic Terrorism Is There a Terrorist Personality? Theories of Terrorism Law Enforcement Response and Government Policy Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 14. Property Crime What Is a Property Offense? Larceny-Theft Burglary Motor Vehicle Theft Arson Crimes of Guile and Deceit: Embezzlement, Fraud, and Forgery/Counterfeiting Summary Exercises/Discussion Questions Useful Internet Sites Chapter Terms 15. Public Order Crime What Are Public Order Crimes? Alcohol and Crime Illegal Drugs and Crime Prostitution and Commercialized Vice Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 16. White-Collar Crime The Concept of White-Collar Crime Occupational Crime Corporate Crime Theories on the Causes of Corporate Crime Law Enforcement’s Response to Corporate Crime Cybercrime: Oh, What a Tangled World Wide Web We Weave! Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms 17. Organized Crime What Is Organized Crime? Political Corruption and Organized Crime A Brief History of Organized Crime in the United States Other Organized Crime Groups Theories of Organized Crime Law Enforcement’s Response to Organized Crime Summary Exercises and Discussion Questions Useful Websites Chapter Terms Glossary References Index About the Author