Criminologists can benefit from questioning the underlying assumptions upon which they rest their work. Philosophy has the ability to clarify our thoughts, inform us of why we think about things the way we do, solve contradictions in our thinking we never knew existed, and even dissolve some dichotomies we thought were cast in stone. One of those dichotomies is free will vs. determinism. Criminology must reckon with both free will and agency, as posited by some theories, and determinism, as posited by others―including the ever more influential fields of genetics and biosocial criminology. Criminological Theory: Assessing Philosophical Assumptions examines philosophical concepts such as these in the context of important criminological theories or issues that are foundational but not generally considered in the literature on this topic. The uniqueness of this treatment of criminological theory is that rather than reporting what this person or that has said about a particular theory, Walsh exposes the philosophical assumptions underlying the theory. Students and scholars learn to clarify their own biases and better analyze the implications of a broad range of theories of crime and justice.

Product Description: This text addresses the following two questions: "What kinds of problems can the law solve?" and "What kinds of problems does the law create?"Using these questions as starting points, Meier and Geis evenhandedly explore the role and function of law relating to six major issues that often divide Americans today: prostitution, drug use, homosexuality, abortion, pornography, and gambling...read more

Product Description: Insider trading. Savings and loan scandals. Enron. Corporate crimes were once thought of as victimless offenses, but now―with billions of dollars and an increasingly global economy at stake―this is understood to be far from the truth...read more

Product Description: In his presidential address to the American Sociological Society more than a quarter of a century ago, Edwin H. Sutherland advanced the idea that crime was being perpetrated by members of society that were considered "normal," "affluent," and "well-adjusted"...read more

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Product Description: This book examines acts of homosexuality, abortion, prostitution, narcotics and gambling in the United States. There is a certain congruence among the acts mentioned above. That congruence inheres in the fact that the marihuana smokers, the homosexuals, the abortionist and his client, and the "runner" and the persons wagering - though all are violating criminal statues - are in each instance committing acts which, in terms of the common understanding of the term, do not have victims...read more

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Describes five dramatic trials of the twentieth century with details on the crime, the police investigation, and the court proceedings, and examines the outcome and aftermath of each trial (view table of contents)

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Product Description: In 1662, Amy Denny and Rose Cullender were accused of witchcraft, and, in one of the most important of such cases in England, stood trial and were hanged in Bury St Edmunds. A Trial of Witches is a complete account of this sensational trial and an analysis of the court procedures, and the larger social, cultural and political concerns of the period...read more

Product Description: This brief text begins by addressing the following two questions: (1) What kinds of problems can the law solve? and (2) What kinds of problems does the law create? Using these questions as starting points, esteemed criminologists Meier and Geis explore the role and function of law in four areas: prostitution, drugs, homosexuality, and abortion...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This book of original essays presents students with challenging looks at some of the most basic, and sometimes most difficult, decisions faced by criminal justice researchers. Each chapter presents an overview of a foundational question/issue in the conduct of research, and discussions of the options to resolve these controversies...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

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Product Description: In this explosive exposé of our health care system, Paul Jesilow, Henry N. Pontell, and Gilbert Geis uncover the dark side of physician practice. Using interviews with doctors and federal, state, and private officials and extensive investigation of case files, they tell the stories of doctors who profit from abortions on women who aren't pregnant, of needless surgery, overcharging for services, and excessive testing...read more