Publisher Description

A vibrant collection of readings designed to provide a comprehensive--and accessible--introduction to criminology, Crime and Criminals: Contemporary and Classic Readings, Second Edition, brings together selections from diverse and dynamic sources, including sociologists, criminologists, and scholars from other related disciplines. Featuring twenty-four new readings, this incisive text addresses the broad range of subjects typically covered in a criminologycourse, including society's attempts to control crime and criminal behavior. To help students understand the relevance and real-world applications of criminology, new coeditor J. MitchellMiller has shaped this edition with new selections that address how criminological research directly influences practical responses to crime. Building on the work of coeditors Frank R. Scarpitti and Amie L. Nielsen, these cutting-edge readings reflect exciting developments in contemporary criminology while also preserving the text's original purpose: to compile a set of readings that represent both the breadth and variety of research on the causes of crime, its control, and related socialpolicy issues. In addition, this engaging text integrates many helpful pedagogical resources, which draw students into the core concepts and fundamental theories of thefield:* An introductory chapter begins each section, providing a survey of the major issues in each area and a helpful context for the readings that follow* An introduction precedes each selection, offering an overview of the article and a discussion of its relevance to students* Lively discussion questions follow each readingAn essential resource for criminology courses, the new edition Crime and Criminals explores thedynamic, challenging, and ever-changing realities of crime.

Author Biography

Frank R. Scarpitti is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware.Amie L. Nielsen is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Miami.J. Mitchell Miller is Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Table of Contents

PrefaceContributorsSection I. Defining Criminology and Crime1. Criminology as Social Science, J. Mitchell Miller2. Historical Explanations of Crime: From Demons to Politics, C. Ronald Huff3. Characteristics of the Criminal Law, Edwin Sutherland and Donald Cressey4. The State, the Law, and the Definition of Behavior as Criminal or Delinquent, William J. ChamblissSection II. Observing and Measuring the Nature and Extent of Crime5. Are Uniform Crime Reports a Valid Indicator of the Index Crimes? An Affirmative Answer with Minor Qualifications, Walter R. Gove, Michael Hughes, and Michael Geerken6. Reassessing the Reliability and Validity of Self-Report Delinquency Measures, David Huizinga and Delbert S. Elliott7. Managing Rape: Exploratory Research on the Behavior of Rape Statistics, Gary F. Jensen and Maryaltani Karpos8. A Snowball's Chance in Hell: Doing Fieldwork with Active Residential Burglars, Richard Wright, Scott H. Decker, Allison K. Redfern, andDietrich L. Smith9. Covert Participant Observation: Reconsidering the Least Used Method, J. Mitchell MillerSection III. Correlates of Crime10. Specifying the SES/Delinquency Relationship, Charles R. Tittle and Robert F. Meier11. Age and the Patterning of Crime, Darrell J. Steffensmeier and Jeffery Ulmer12. Explaining the Gender Gap in Delinquency: Peer Influence and Moral Evaluations of Behavior, Daniel P. Mears, Matthew Ploeger, and Mark Warr13. Intelligence and Criminal Behavior, Scott Menard14. Family Relationships, Juvenile Delinquency, and Adult Criminality, Joan McCord15. On Immigration and Crime, Ramiro Martinez, Jr. and Matthew T. LeeSection IV. Theories of Crime16. Formal and Informal Sanctions: A Comparison of Deterrent Effects, Linda S. Anderson, Theodore G. Chiricos, and Gordon P. Waldo17. The Criminal Man, Cesare Lombroso18. Does the Body Tell? Biological Characteristics and Criminal Disposition, David Row19. Personality and Crime: Are Some People Crime Prone?, Avshalom Caspi, Terrie E. Moffitt, Phil A. Silva, Magda Stouthamer-Moeber, Robert F. Krueger, and Pamela S. Schmutte20. A Sociological Theory of Criminal Behavior, Edwin H. Sutherland21. A Social Learning Theory of Crime, Ronald L. Akers22. Lower-Class Culture as a Generating Milieu of Gang Delinquency, Walter B. Miller23. Code of the Streets, Elijah Anderson24. Formal Characteristics of Delinquency Areas, Clifford R. Shaw and Henry McKay25. Routine Activity Theory, Lawrence E. Cohen and Marcus Felson26. A Control Theory of Delinquency, Travis Hirschi27. The Nature of Criminality: Low Self-Control, Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi28. Foundation for a General Theory of Crime, Robert Agnew29. Crime and the American Dream, Steven S. Messner and Richard Rosenfeld30. Causes of Crime: A Radical View, Michael J. Lynch and W. Byron GrovesSection V. Criminological Observations of Crime31. Violent Crime in the United States, Albert J. Reiss, Jr. and Jeffrey A. Roth32. The Motivation to Commit Property Crimes, Kenneth D. Tunnell33. Organized Crime, Frank R. Scarpitti34. Casinos and Banking: Organized Crime in the Bahamas, Alan A. Block and Frank R. Scarpitti35. Denying the Guilty Mind: Accounting for Involvement in White-Collar Crime, Michael L. Benson36. Trouble in the Schoolyard: A Study of Risk Factors of Victimization, Christopher J. Schreck, J. Mitchell Miller, Chris L. Gibson37. Researching Dealers and Smugglers, Patricia A. AdlerSection VI. Responses to Crime38. Police, Carl B. Klockars39. Racial Profiling, David A. Harris40. The Decision to Prosecute, George F. Cole41. Prostitution Control in America, Ronald Weitzer42. The Evidence in Favor of Prisons, Richard A. Wright43. Decriminalization, Samuel Walker

Review

"The ambitious breadth of the editors' goals represents the anthology's strength. However, simply noting that the readings are comprehensive and logical does an injustice to the editors' accomplishment. This anthology represents an intellectual coup . . . a virtual celebration of and tribute to some of the real giants of criminology."--William A. Reese, Augusta State University"Many criminology texts seem to mimic an almost tabloid-type sensationalism. By contrast, the introductions and the articles selected in this book reflect solid, well-researched, and carefully reasoned approaches to the study of crime."--Joan Olson, University of Mary Washington"The ambitious breadth of the editors' goals represents the anthology's strength. However, simply noting that the readings are comprehensive and logical does an injustice to the editors' accomplishment. This anthology represents an intellectual coup . . . a virtual celebration of and tribute to some of the real giants of criminology."--William A. Reese, Augusta State University"Many criminology texts seem to mimic an almost tabloid-type sensationalism. By contrast, the introductions and the articles selected in this book reflect solid, well-researched, and carefully reasoned approaches to the study of crime."--Joan Olson, University of Mary Washington

Promotional

Featuring twenty-four new readings, this vibrant collection is designed to provide a comprehensive--and accessible--introduction to criminology.

Long Description

A vibrant collection of readings designed to provide a comprehensive--and accessible--introduction to criminology, Crime and Criminals: Contemporary and Classic Readings, Second Edition, brings together selections from diverse and dynamic sources, including sociologists, criminologists, and scholars from other related disciplines. Featuring twenty-four new readings, this incisive text addresses the broad range of subjects typically covered in a criminology
course, including society's attempts to control crime and criminal behavior. To help students understand the relevance and real-world applications of criminology, new coeditor J. Mitchell Miller has shaped this edition with new selections that address how criminological research
directly influences practical responses to crime. Building on the work of coeditors Frank R. Scarpitti and Amie L. Nielsen, these cutting-edge readings reflect exciting developments in contemporary criminology while also preserving the text's original purpose: to compile a set of readings that represent both the breadth and variety of research on the causes of crime, its control, and related social policy issues. In addition, this engaging text integrates many helpful
pedagogical resources, which draw students into the core concepts and fundamental theories of the field:* An introductory chapter begins each section, providing a survey of the major issues in each area and a helpful context for the readings that follow* An introduction
precedes each selection, offering an overview of the article and a discussion of its relevance to students* Lively discussion questions follow each readingAn essential resource for criminology courses, the new edition Crime and Criminals explores the dynamic, challenging, and ever-changing realities of crime.

Review Text

"The ambitious breadth of the editors' goals represents the anthology's strength. However, simply noting that the readings are comprehensive and logical does an injustice to the editors' accomplishment. This anthology represents an intellectual coup . . . a virtual celebration of and tribute to some of the real giants of criminology."--William A. Reese, Augusta State University
"Many criminology texts seem to mimic an almost tabloid-type sensationalism. By contrast, the introductions and the articles selected in this book reflect solid, well-researched, and carefully reasoned approaches to the study of crime."--Joan Olson, University of Mary Washington
"The ambitious breadth of the editors' goals represents the anthology's strength. However, simply noting that the readings are comprehensive and logical does an injustice to the editors' accomplishment. This anthology represents an intellectual coup . . . a virtual celebration of and tribute to some of the real giants of criminology."--William A. Reese, Augusta State University
"Many criminology texts seem to mimic an almost tabloid-type sensationalism. By contrast, the introductions and the articles selected in this book reflect solid, well-researched, and carefully reasoned approaches to the study of crime."--Joan Olson, University of Mary Washington

Review Quote

"The ambitious breadth of the editors' goals represents the anthology's strength. However, simply noting that the readings are comprehensive and logical does an injustice to the editors' accomplishment. This anthology represents an intellectual coup . . . a virtual celebration of and tribute to some of the real giants of criminology."--William A. Reese, Augusta State University "Many criminology texts seem to mimic an almost tabloid-type sensationalism. By contrast, the introductions and the articles selected in this book reflect solid, well-researched, and carefully reasoned approaches to the study of crime."--Joan Olson, University of Mary Washington

New Feature

Preface Contributors Section I. Defining Criminology and Crime 1. Criminology as Social Science, J. Mitchell Miller 2. Historical Explanations of Crime: From Demons to Politics, C. Ronald Huff 3. Characteristics of the Criminal Law, Edwin Sutherland and Donald Cressey 4. The State, the Law, and the Definition of Behavior as Criminal or Delinquent, William J. Chambliss Section II. Observing and Measuring the Nature and Extent of Crime 5. Are Uniform Crime Reports a Valid Indicator of the Index Crimes? An Affirmative Answer with Minor Qualifications, Walter R. Gove, Michael Hughes, and Michael Geerken 6. Reassessing the Reliability and Validity of Self-Report Delinquency Measures, David Huizinga and Delbert S. Elliott 7. Managing Rape: Exploratory Research on the Behavior of Rape Statistics, Gary F. Jensen and Maryaltani Karpos 8. A Snowball''s Chance in Hell: Doing Fieldwork with Active Residential Burglars, Richard Wright, Scott H. Decker, Allison K. Redfern, andDietrich L. Smith 9. Covert Participant Observation: Reconsidering the Least Used Method, J. Mitchell Miller Section III. Correlates of Crime 10. Specifying the SES/Delinquency Relationship, Charles R. Tittle and Robert F. Meier 11. Age and the Patterning of Crime, Darrell J. Steffensmeier and Jeffery Ulmer 12. Explaining the Gender Gap in Delinquency: Peer Influence and Moral Evaluations of Behavior, Daniel P. Mears, Matthew Ploeger, and Mark Warr 13. Intelligence and Criminal Behavior, Scott Menard 14. Family Relationships, Juvenile Delinquency, and Adult Criminality, Joan McCord 15. On Immigration and Crime, Ramiro Martinez, Jr. and Matthew T. Lee Section IV. Theories of Crime 16. Formal and Informal Sanctions: A Comparison of Deterrent Effects, Linda S. Anderson, Theodore G. Chiricos, and Gordon P. Waldo 17. The Criminal Man, Cesare Lombroso 18. Does the Body Tell? Biological Characteristics and Criminal Disposition, David Row 19. Personality and Crime: Are Some People Crime Prone?, Avshalom Caspi, Terrie E. Moffitt, Phil A. Silva, Magda Stouthamer-Moeber, Robert F. Krueger, and Pamela S. Schmutte 20. A Sociological Theory of Criminal Behavior, Edwin H. Sutherland 21. A Social Learning Theory of Crime, Ronald L. Akers 22. Lower-Class Culture as a Generating Milieu of Gang Delinquency, Walter B. Miller 23. Code of the Streets, Elijah Anderson 24. Formal Characteristics of Delinquency Areas, Clifford R. Shaw and Henry McKay 25. Routine Activity Theory, Lawrence E. Cohen and Marcus Felson 26. A Control Theory of Delinquency, Travis Hirschi 27. The Nature of Criminality: Low Self-Control, Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi 28. Foundation for a General Theory of Crime, Robert Agnew 29. Crime and the American Dream, Steven S. Messner and Richard Rosenfeld 30. Causes of Crime: A Radical View, Michael J. Lynch and W. Byron Groves Section V. Criminological Observations of Crime 31. Violent Crime in the United States, Albert J. Reiss, Jr. and Jeffrey A. Roth 32. The Motivation to Commit Property Crimes, Kenneth D. Tunnell 33. Organized Crime, Frank R. Scarpitti 34. Casinos and Banking: Organized Crime in the Bahamas, Alan A. Block and Frank R. Scarpitti 35. Denying the Guilty Mind: Accounting for Involvement in White-Collar Crime, Michael L. Benson 36. Trouble in the Schoolyard: A Study of Risk Factors of Victimization, Christopher J. Schreck, J. Mitchell Miller, Chris L. Gibson 37. Researching Dealers and Smugglers, Patricia A. Adler Section VI. Responses to Crime 38. Police, Carl B. Klockars 39. Racial Profiling, David A. Harris 40. The Decision to Prosecute, George F. Cole 41. Prostitution Control in America, Ronald Weitzer 42. The Evidence in Favor of Prisons, Richard A. Wright 43. Decriminalization, Samuel Walker

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