Why do people commit crimes? How do we control crime? The theories that criminologists use to answer these questions are built on a number of underlying assumptions, including those about the nature of crime, free will, human nature, and society.  These assumptions have a fundamental impact on criminology: they largely determine what criminologists study, the causes they examine, the control strategies they recommend, and how they test their theories and evaluate crime-control strategies. In Toward a Unified Criminology, noted criminologist Robert Agnew provides a critical examination of these assumptions, drawing on a range of research and perspectives to argue that these assumptions are too restrictive, unduly limiting the types of "crime" that are explored, the causes that are considered, and the methods of data collection and analysis that are employed.  As such, they undermine our ability to explain and control crime. Agnew then proposes an alternative set of assumptions, drawing heavily on both mainstream and critical theories of criminology, with the goal of laying the foundation for a unified criminology that is better able to explain a broader range of crimes.

The Second Edition of Agnew's popular text is thoroughly updated. The coverage of delinquency theories is expanded, more examples are provided, and a Teaching Aids section appears at the end of each chapter.The four sections of this text examine: 1. The nature and extent of delinquency. Includes chapters on the nature and origins of the juvenile justice system; the extent of and trends in delinquency, including reasons for the recent decline in delinquency; and the characteristics of delinquents.2. The major theories of delinquency. Discusses strain, social learning, control, and labeling theories; as well as efforts to use these theories to explain patterns of offending over the life course, why delinquency is more likely in some situations than others, and why some groups and communities have higher rates of delinquency than others (e.g., why males have higher rates of delinquency than females).3. The major research on the causes of delinquency. Includes research on the relationship between delinquency and biological factors, individual traits, family factors, school experiences, delinquent peer groups and gangs, the mass media, religion, work, drugs, and guns.4. The efforts of the police, juvenile court, and juvenile correctional agencies to control delinquency. Examines the effectiveness of these agencies, ways to increase their effectiveness, and the extent to which they discriminate against certain groups. Also, examines four general strategies for controlling delinquency--the "get tough" strategies of deterrence and incapacitation, and the strategies of rehabilitation and prevention.

Product Description: In the second edition of Interviewing, experienced educators Rob Anderson and G. Michael Killenberg explain and demystify the interviewing process, offering students a practical guide to the fascinating art of asking and answering questions...read more

This book allows students to explore this major theory in depth, reviewing the research on the theory, comparing it to other theories, and applying the theory to key issues in the study of crime.

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