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Key Concepts in Crime and Society
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Key Concepts in Crime and Society



December 2014 | 200 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

"A crucial text for whetting the academic appetite of those studying criminology at university. The comprehensive engagement with key crime and deviance debates and issues make this a perfect springboard for launching into the complex, diverse and exciting realm of researching criminology."
- Dr Ruth Penfold-Mounce, University of York


"Essential reading for those new to the discipline and an invaluable reference point for those well versed in criminology and the sociology of crime and deviance."
- Dr Mark Monaghan, University of Leeds

Key Concepts in Crime and Society offers an authoritative introduction to key issues in the area of crime as it connects to society. By providing critical insight into the key issues within each concept as well as highlighted cross-references to other key concepts, students will be helped to grasp a clear understanding of each of the topics covered and how they relate to broader areas of crime and criminality. The book is divided into three parts:

  • Understanding Crime and Criminality: introduces topics such as the social construction of crime and deviance, social control, the fear of crime, poverty and exclusion, white collar crime, victims of crime, race/gender and crime.
  • Types of Crime and Criminality: explores examples including human trafficking, sex work, drug crime, environmental crime, cyber crime, war crime, terrorism, and interpersonal violence.
  • Responses to Crime: looks at areas such as crime and the media, policing, moral panics, deterrence, prisons and rehabilitation.

The book provides an up-to-date, critical understanding on a wide range of crime related topics covering the major concepts students are likely to encounter within the fields of sociology, criminology and across the social sciences.

 
SECTION ONE: UNDERSTANDING CRIME AND CRIMINALITY
 
Crime (definition of)
 
Deviance (definition of)
 
Crime in pre-industrial society; crime in modern societies; crime in post-modern society
 
The criminal justice system
 
Social construction of crime and deviance
 
Crime and theory
 
Social Control, Governance and Governmentality
 
Researching crime
 
Crime statistics
 
Prevalence, incidence and incident of crime
 
Risk from crime
 
Risk of becoming criminally involved: why do people commit crime
 
Fear and the fear of crime
 
Poverty and exclusion
 
Victims of crime
 
Normalisation
 
Gender and crime
 
Youth and crime
 
Race/ethnicity and crime
 
White collar/middle class and corporate class crime
 
SECTION TWO: TYPES OF CRIME AND CRIMINALITY
 
Human trafficking/slavery
 
Sex work
 
Victimless crime
 
Drug related crime and violence
 
Gangs
 
Environmental crime and green criminology
 
Rural crime
 
Internet/cyber crime
 
State Crime
 
War Crime
 
Terrorism
 
Violence/Interpersonal Violence
 
SECTION THREE: RESPONSES TO CRIME
 
Crime and the Media
 
Moral Panics
 
Police and Policing
 
Deterrence and Prevention
 
Punishment
 
Prisons
 
Rehabilitation
 
Alternatives to Imprisonment

A crucial text for whetting the academic appetite of those studying criminology at university. The comprehensive engagement with key crime and deviance debates and issues make this a perfect springboard for launching into the complex, diverse and exciting realm of researching criminology.

Dr Ruth Penfold-Mounce
University of York

Essential reading for those new to the discipline and an invaluable reference point for those well versed in criminology and the sociology of crime and deviance.

Dr Mark Monaghan
University of Leeds

The four authors of this concise volume provide an authoritative introduction to diverse key concepts about crime and its relationship to society. Each chapter starts with a definition (e.g., deviance, social control, normalization), providing readers with the vocabulary and conceptual framework for fully understanding chapter contents... a very good way to expose students and the public (and scholars from outside fields) to definitions, ideas, and theories of crime and society.

K. Evans, Indiana State University
Choice

This was very clear on aspects of crime and society

Miss Maria Adams
Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, Surrey University
September 14, 2016

The book contains interesting concept's which enhance the students learning relating to reasons behind crime and criminal behaviour. It will be recommended to my level 5 students completing Community Engagement and Partnership working. This programme has an element of crime and crime reduction methods.

Mr Stuart Harry Woodcock
Sociology , Chester University
October 1, 2015

Very useful as a first reader for early years UG students who want to begin to explore some of the tensions within society. The challenges of 'resposes' are effectively introduced.

Mr Ashley Tiffen
Institute of Policing and Criminal Justice Studies, University of Cumbria
June 16, 2015

This book provides a great summary of the pertinent topics for our policing degree programme. It covers criminological theory, some contemporary issues and also covers some research methods.
Very digestible for under-graduate students.

Mrs Jennifer Norman
Dept of Law & Criminal Justice Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University
March 12, 2015

Easy to read and understand book that covers the key concepts of crime and criminology

Miss samantha gavaghan
LRC, Redcar & Cleveland College
April 12, 2016

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