Introductory Criminology

Marcus Felson is the originator of the routine activity approach and author of Crime and Everyday Life. He has also authored Crime and Nature, and he serves as a professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He has a B.A. from the University of Chicago and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He has received the 2014 Honoris Causa from the Universidad Miguel Hernandez in Spain, and he has been given the Ronald Clarke Award by the Environmental Criminology and Crime Analysis group and the Paul Tappan Award by the Western Society of Criminology. He has been a guest lecturer in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. He has applied routine activity thinking to many topics, including theft, violence, sexual abuse, white-collar crime, and corruption. Two books honoring Professor Felson’s work have been published, one in English and another in Spanish. Mary A. Eckert has devoted an active career to applied research in criminal justice and program evaluation. She has an M.A. and Ph.D. from New York University. Her B.A. is from the College of New Rochelle. Dr. Eckert served as Research Director of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency, Inc., where she authored many research reports and guided that agency’s diverse research agenda, including work on pretrial risk assessment, court case processing, and evaluation of alternative-to-incarceration programs. She then served in the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, with a special focus on statistical evaluation of vehicle stops to assist the New Jersey State Police in reducing the potential for racial profiling. Her work has been recognized by the New York Association of Pretrial Service Agencies and the State of New Jersey. She has also served as an adjunct professor at New York University, Montclair State University, and Texas State University. Marcus Felson’s wife and life partner, this book is her second collaboration with her husband.

'For those looking for a fresh way to introduce students to our field, Marcus Felson and Mary Eckert have an appetizing alternative to offer. Writing in an accessible style, they bring many facts about crime together to reveal important realities. I particularly like their analysis of covert and overt crimes, and how they are affected by neighborhood poverty. They make criminology illuminating and thus interesting by exploring the visible and tangible factors that shape the nature of crime and its prevention. Indeed, I think that criminology as a field would be better off if more of us followed their lead by focusing less on ambiguous constructs and more on things we can see, touch, and change.' – Francis T. Cullen, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, University of Cincinnati'From the perspective of the community college, the true intersection of our neighborhoods, Felson and Eckert have added another rich layer to criminology with risky situations. Students will be able to better retain what is taught. A solidly structured textbook that supports your pedagogy.' – Randy S. Zimpfer, Jamestown Community College 'Marcus Felson and Mary Eckert have written a cutting-edge Criminology book that breaks through the often-stuffy presentation of seemingly endless and non-related criminology theories that leave students—and instructors—hoping just to complete the semester. With an innovative framework focusing on Risky Situations, readers will clearly understand and value the connection of criminological theory with real-world and personal experiences while acquiring practical ideas to understand, prevent, and respond to crime.' – Ben Stickle, Middle Tennessee State University

• Getting Started. Part 1. The Crime Challenge. Unit 1.1 The Need to Control Disputes. Unit 1.2. Containing Sexual Temptations. Unit 1.3 Protecting Property. Unit 1.4 Safeguarding Children. Perspective on Part 1. Part 2. Four Types of Crime Control. Unit 2.1 Personal Controls. Unit 2.2 Social Controls. Unit 2.3 Situational Controls. Unit 2.4 Formal Controls. Perspective on Part 2. Part 3. Realistic Justice. Unit 3.l Assigning Responsibility. Unit 3.2 Realistic Policing. Unit 3.3 Realistic Court Activity. Unit 3.4 Realistic Sanctions. Unit 3.5 Efforts and Realities. Unit 3.6 Practical Crime Data. Perspective on Part 3. Part 4. Risky Ages. Unit 4.1 The Teenage Brain Unit 4.2 Teenage Volatility. Unit 4.3 Peer Influences. Unit 4.4 Situational Inducements. Unit 4.5 Time with Peers. Perspective on Part 4. Part 5. Overt Crime Areas. Unit 5.1 Tough Neighborhoods. Unit 5.2 Cohesion vs. Intimidation. Unit 5.3 Exclusion. Unit 5.4 Concentration. Unit 5.5 Accommodation. Unit 5.6 The Pathway to Decay. Unit 5.7 Mapping Crime. Perspective on Part 5. Part 6. Risky Settings for Women. Unit 6.1 The Policy Challenge. Unit 6.2 Risky Streets. Unit 6.3 Risky Homes. Unit 6.4 Risky Nights. Perspective on Part 6. Part 7. Crime Enhancers. Unit 7.1 Crime in Groups. Unit 7.2 Crime via Cyberspace. Perspective on Part 7. Wrapping Up. Index.