Criminology

Our everyday worlds are filled with reference to crime, punishment, discipline and the law, but what do these concepts actually mean? How have these meanings and understandings been constructed and to what extent are they shared by members of society? How have criminologists attempted to explain and understand the phenomena of crime and deviance?  These are amongst the issues and questions that Criminology: theory and context invites the reader to re-examine.

This clear and rigorous historical introduction to criminology combines an accessible style with depth and scope to encourage a broad understanding of the discipline. Closely mapping the development of criminology and criminological theory within a historical context, it provides a logical structure and accessible framework through which students will absorb the wider scope and development of the area, as well as the societal and cultural influences that have shaped it.

New to this edition:

• Thoroughly updated to reflect key perspectives in contemporary criminological theory
• New material on critical theory, feminism, masculinities, cultural criminology and postmodernism
• Relevant updates in relation to New Labour's criminal justice and penal policies in its third term in office
• Generally updated statistics and examples throughout
• New introductions outline the key themes and issues for each chapter.

Key Features

• Historical, linear approach provides a clear and digestible overview of the emergence and development of the discipline

• Provides a social and political context by examining the latest developments in criminal justice and the politics of law and order in the UK and US

• Criminological theory is discussed in depth and interweaved with the empirical and historical context to provide a cohesive and integrated whole

• A broad range of data and examples provide evidence and grounding for the analysis and theory

• Key themes lists and annotated further reading help navigation and encourage further investigation

Tierney has made an enormous contribution by offering a thorough, comprehensive, and accurate review and record of the field the book should be read by all students of criminology looking for an account of the essential themes, key debates and contemporary twists in the theoretical explanation of crime

Professor Colin Sumner

"Criminology is marked by almost all those qualities one might hope to find in an introduction to a burgeoning and often incoherent discipline.  It is a near-encyclopedic summary of major American and British work that succeeds in being well-structured, accessible, clearly-written, judicious and historically-informed.  That is quite a feat."

Professor Paul Rock, LSE

This text will be essential reading for students of criminology, criminol...