Crime and Criminal Justice provides students with a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the study of criminology by taking an interdisciplinary approach to explaining criminal behaviour and criminal justice.

The book is divided into two parts, which address the two essential bases that form the discipline of criminology. Part One describes, discusses and evaluates a range of theoretical approaches that have offered explanations for crime, drawing upon contributions from the disciplines of sociology, psychology, and biology. It then goes on to apply these theories to specific forms of criminality. Part Two offers an accessible but detailed review of the major philosophical aims and sociological theories of punishment, and examines the main areas of the contemporary criminal justice system - including the police, the courts and judiciary, prisons, and more recent approaches to punishment.

Presenting a clear and thorough review of theoretical thinking on crime, and of the context and current workings of the criminal justice system, this book provides students with an excellent grounding in the study of criminology.

About the Author

Ian Marsh is Principal Lecturer in Criminology at Liverpool Hope University and is a widely published textbook author. His recent publications include Theories of Crime (Routledge 2006 - with Gaynor Melville, Keith Morgan, Gareth Norris and Zoe Walkington), Criminal Justice: An Introduction to Philosophies, Theories and Practice (Routledge 2004 - with Gaynor Melville and John Cochrane), Sociology: Making Sense of Society (4th ed, Pearson, 2009), and Crime, Justice and the Media (Routledge 2009 - with Gaynor Melville).

Gaynor Melville is Lecturer in Criminology at Liverpool Hope University. She has co-written and contributed to a number of books including Crime, Justice and the Media (Routledge 2009), Theories of Crime (Routledge 2006) and Criminal Justice (Routledge 2004).

John Cochrane is Lecturer in History and Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University and contributed to Criminal Justice (Routledge 2004).

Keith Morgan is Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Psychology at Liverpool Hope University and contributed to Theories of Crime (Routledge 2006).

Gareth Norris is Lecturer in Criminology at Aberystwyth University and contributed to Theories of Crime (Routledge 2006).

Reviews

Review 1 Southampton (middle ranking dept).We will include more on contemporary theorising. We are aware of the Hale et al book, We can do as good a job (but some will always like an Oxford Univ Press publication).

Review 2 (Kent - high ranking dept.) not entirely negative, main gist is that books is too low a level - I was hoping for this comment.

Review 3 (Huddersfield (low ranking dept) very positive and coming from a similar perspective/approach - would adopt the book 2 x 120 students

Review 4 (Coventry middle ranking dept)- some useful points - would like to see the book developed and published.

The reviews seem to confirm that there is a gap for the proposed multidisciplinary intro textbook that aims at low/middle ranking universities that teach a the multidisciplinary approach. The author has taken the suggestions by reviewer 3 and 4 and to a certain extent 1 on board and has revised the proposal accordingly.

Book Information
ISBN 9780415581523
Author Ian Marsh
Format Paperback
Page Count 536
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 990g