Fundamentals of Criminology

The third edition of Fundamentals of Criminology: New Dimensions delivers a palatably comprehensive introduction to the discipline of criminology, including connections between criminology and criminal justice policy. As the title implies, it covers the fundamentals of criminology, including the major theories of crime causation, classic and current empirical tests of those theories, and the strengths and weaknesses and policy implications of each, carefully woven together.

There are several things that set the third edition of Fundamentals of Criminology: New Dimensions apart from other criminology texts:

• First, several significant historical events have happened in the United States since the last edition of this book was released in 2016 that are included in the third edition;
• Second, for each theory of crime, there is a description of the tenets of the theory as well as a discussion of empirical research that tests the theory, an evaluation of each theory's strengths and weaknesses, and an explanation of its policy implications;
• Third, the most up-to-date information on crime commission is included, as well as changes in the amount of crime over time;
• And fourth, a chapter devoted to the connection between criminological theory and the criminal justice system, where authors consider the theoretical bases for punishment, prevention, and rehabilitation, and how they are connected to the criminal justice system.