Criminology - Softcover

Beirne, Professor Piers; Messerschmidt, James W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931719640 ISBN 13: 9781931719643

Publisher: Roxbury Publishing Co, 2005

Synopsis

Ideal for undergraduate courses in criminology--especially those taught from a critical perspective--Criminology: A Sociological Approach, Sixth Edition, is a comprehensive yet highly accessible introduction to the study of crime and criminological theory. Authors Piers Beirne and James W. Messerschmidt present the topic from a sociological standpoint, emphasizing the social construction of crime and showing how crime relates to gender, class, race, and age. Providing students with a strong theoretical foundation, the book also addresses historical, feminist, and comparative perspectives and highlights the major types of crime and victimization patterns.

THE TEXT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS:
* Part I focuses on four questions: "What is crime?" "How are perceptions of it influenced by the mass media and by fear of
crime?" "How can we measure how much crime there is in the United States?" and finally, "How often does crime occur and with what degrees of seriousness?"
* Part II is a systematic guide to modern criminological theory and its historical development
* Part III examines specific types of crime, including property crime, interpersonal violence, white-collar crime, and political
crime, and it concludes with a chapter on comparative criminology and globalization

The sixth edition features new and up-to-date empirical data and also covers areas not included in many criminology texts, like cultural criminology, green criminology, whiteness and crime, the rape-war connection, Ponzi schemes, domestic right-wing terrorism, and state-sanctioned torture.

About this title

Review:

"Criminology is the most comprehensive, logically organized, and coherently presented book on the market."--Gary W. Potter, Eastern Kentucky University

"Beirne and Messerschmidt clearly offer far more in the way of examples and case
studies than my current text. The book is very user-friendly, and will appeal visually to today's students."--Laura Hansen, Western New England University

"Criminology is the most comprehensive, logically organized, and coherently presented book on the market."--Gary W. Potter, Eastern Kentucky University

"Beirne and Messerschmidt clearly offer far more in the way of examples and case
studies than my current text. The book is very user-friendly, and will appeal visually to today's students."--Laura Hansen, Western New England University

Synopsis:

The Fourth Edition of "Criminology" is Piers Beirne and James W. Messerschmidt's well-respected and comprehensive introduction to the study of crime and criminological theory. The authors take a critical sociological approach that emphasizes the relationship between four different sociological variables (gender, class, race, age) and crime. Thoroughly revised and updated, the new edition features numerous additions, both empirical and theoretical, including globalization, cyberstalking, computer crime, animal abuse, the latest corporate scandals (Enron, Worldcom, etc.), violence by college athletes, election fraud, and terrorism. One of the main strengths of this text is the way in which the authors trace the historical development of criminological theory and place the development of each theory in a historically specific set of social, economic, and political circumstances. Definitions of crime and the measurement of crime are subjected to a critical analysis that focuses on the social construction of crime and crime rates. The authors explore a wide range of research on property crimes and interpersonal violence as well as syndicated, white-collar, and political crimes.

The chapter on the study of crime and victimization in a cross-national context helps students understand the importance of viewing crime through a culturally relative lens, as well as the problems associated with making cross-national generalizations regarding crime. Throughout the text, Beirne and Messerschmidt address historical, feminist, and comparative perspectives highlighting the major types of crime and victimization patterns. Their introduction addresses two key questions: "What is crime?" and "How is it measured?" The authors then debunk the major crime myths that are recreated daily and the notion that the most serious crimes are committed by the urban underclass. Written in student-oriented, accessible language, "Criminology" increases understanding through the abundant use of relevant illustrations, examples, and case studies. End-of-chapter key terms, discussion questions, additional readings, a glossary, and suggested websites further support student learning. Additionally, a comprehensive, password-protected Instructor's Manual/Testing Program is available online.

About this edition

• Publisher: Roxbury Publishing Co
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1931719640
• ISBN 13: 9781931719643
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 208