The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (Paperback)

by Mike Maguire (Editor), Rod Morgan (Editor), Robert Reiner (Editor)
Key Phrases: offender management model, nodal governance approach, statutory charging scheme, New York, British Journal of Criminology, Cambridge University Press (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
'...quite simply an outstanding achievement ... the only text that is authoritative, comprehensive and serious enough to be the basis of an entire course in criminology.' Professor Stan Cohen, The British Journal of Criminology

'It will define undergraduate and postgraduate criminology courses for some time to come ...' Criminal Justice Matters

"Excellent text covering wide body of criminology but providing depth of cover", Clare Connelly, University of Glasgow

"very comprehensive and authoritative. Excellent guides to further reading in each area. An excellent book but we recommend a number of boolks which combined vover our course well", Gavin Dingwall, University of Wales, Aberystwyth

"A very useful background for students, varied and interesting", Katherine Allan

`This book brings together a collection of views giving the criminology student quick access to theories on almost all aspects of criminology. It is the first thing you should reach for when an assignment is given out! ' Amazon.com Reader Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
The most comprehensive and authoritative single volume text on the subject, the fourth edition of the acclaimed Oxford Handbook of Criminology combines masterly reviews of all the key topics with extensive references to aid further research. In addition to the history of the discipline and reviews of different theoretical perspectives, the book provides up-to-date reviews of diverse topics as the criminal justice process, race and gender, crime statistics, and the media and crime. The fourth edition has been substantially revised and updated and is essential reading for all teachers and students of criminology and an indispensable sourcebook for professionals.

Online Resource Center

* Test bank of questions enabling lecturers to test their students' progress and understanding
* Web links to key criminological resources allowing students to further research the subject
* Notes on the Contributors
* Editors' Introduction to the 4th edition


See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1185 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 4 edition (May 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199205434
• ISBN-13: 978-0199205431
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #830,932 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #11 in	Books > Nonfiction > Law > English Law > Criminal
  #22 in	Books > Nonfiction > Law > English Law > Courts & Procedures

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone interested in or studying criminology, May 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (Paperback)

A vast collection of essays on different criminological subjects that covers most things on a course of study. Will also act as a good book for reference and background reading. Although it appears pricey it does cover a lot of ground and is indeed very cost effective when compared to similar books that offer not much for a similar price. The only criticism is this - if you are wanting a feminist perspective this often comes off as lacking, although in saying this it does (by this ommission) reveal the holes in criminological research that feminists are seeking to correct. Well worth adding to your collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, April 4, 2008

By	William Podmore (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is the leading modern text in criminology, comprehensive and authoritative, written by 35 distinguished British contributors. The editors are Mike Maguire, Professor of Criminology at Cardiff University, Rod Morgan, Chairman of the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales and Professor Emeritus at Bristol University, and Robert Reiner, Professor of Criminology at the London School of Economics.

It has five parts: the history and theory of criminology, the social construction of crime and crime control, the dimensions of crime, the forms of crime, and reactions to crime. It covers research and policy developments and their relationship to race, gender, youth culture and political economy.

The evidence is that the serious violent crime rate is much higher in Thatcherite political economies than in welfarist ones. As Reiner writes, there is a plethora of material confirming that crime of all kinds is linked to inequality, relative deprivation, and unemployment. So, for example, the rise in crime in Britain in the 1980s was due to what happened in the 1980s: naturally Thatcher blamed it on what had happened 20 years before. And it was the 1980s, not the 1960s, that saw the dramatic rise in opiate use here.

The evidence shows that states with higher welfare spending have less crime and lower imprisonment rates. For every dollar spent, Michigans Head Start welfare programme brought $17 of benefit by cutting crime, thereby cutting the numbers imprisoned and thus the costs of imprisonment.

Of course, recognising that crime has root causes does not stop us exploring all possible avenues of crime reduction, victim support and penal reform. Nor does it mean ignoring offenders moral responsibility. Understanding does not cancel the need for judgment.

Thatcherite political economies also have more punitive penal policies. Yet welfarist Sweden has had a smaller rise in crime than Britain, while having a less punitive penal policy. Similarly, Finland has dramatically cut its prison numbers, without increasing crime.

Growing economic inequality and social polarisation increase crime and therefore insecurity and fear. We cannot afford to leave the economy, or society or security to the market. We need to take responsibility for all aspects of our society.

5.0 out of 5 stars The bible of criminology, April 29, 2005

By	Happy Ed (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (Oxford Handbooks) (Paperback)

This is one of the best books out there dealing with criminology. It is huge and has essays dealing with many subjects written by some of the most influential criminologists in England and abroad.