Fundamentals of Criminology

Book excerpt: Fundamentals of Criminology provides students with a comprehensive overview of the critical theories that are generally taught in undergraduate courses. The valuable insight and information within the text encourages discussion and consideration of policy implications, applications, theoretical evaluation, and the criminal justice system itself. The book begins with an overview of crime, criminology, and the criminal justice system, along with an introduction to various databases used to study topics related to crime and justice. In later chapters, students learn the fundamental theories of criminology, including the classical school of thought, the positivist school of thought, social structure theories based on socioeconomic status, power, and wealth, and theories of social learning and social reaction. For each theory, there is a clear introduction and discussion of its key propositions and concepts, followed by an examination of its impact on the criminal justice system and policymaking. The book concludes with chapters addressing white-collar crime, terrorism, and tools for addressing the evolving challenges within the field. Fundamentals of Criminology is well-suited for undergraduate courses in sociology, criminal justice, and criminology, especially those that address criminological theory. Divvya Sharma holds a Ph.D. in sociology and master's degrees in sociology and criminal justice. Her research focuses on topics related to informal banking systems; comparative criminology and criminal justice research; and immigration, globalization, and ethnic identity. She has been using mixed methods to study these topics and has collected data in India, Kenya, and the United States.