Crime Science Series – serie

The evidence-based policing (EBP) movement has intensified in many countries around the world in recent years, resulting in a proliferation of policies and infrastructure to support such a transformation. This movement has come to be associated with particular methods of evaluation and systematic review, which have been drawn from what is assumed to prevail in medicine.Given the credibility EBP is currently enjoying with both practitioners and government, it is timely to subject its underpinning logic to thoughtful scrutiny. This involves deliberating upon the meaning of evidence and what different models of knowledge accumulation and research methods have to offer in realising the aims of EBP. The communication and presentation of evidence to practitioner audiences is another important aspect of EBP, as are collaborative efforts to ‘co-produce’ new knowledge on police practice.This is the first book that takes a kaleidoscopic approach to depict what EBP presently is and how it could develop. The chapters individually and collectively challenge the underlying logic to the mainstream EBP position, and the book concludes with an agenda for a more inclusive conceptualisation of evidence and EBP for the future. It is aimed at students and academics who are interested in being part of this movement, as well as policymakers and practitioners interested in integrating EBP principles into their practices.

Agent-Based Modelling for Criminological Theory Testing and Development addresses the question whether and how we can use simulation methods in order to test criminological theories, and if they fail to be corroborated, how we can use simulation to mend and further develop theories. It is by no means immediately obvious how results being observed in an artificial environment have any relevance for what is going on in the real world. By using the concept of a "stylized fact," the contributors bridge the gap between artificial and real world. With backgrounds in criminology or artificial intelligence (AI), these contributors present agent-based model studies that test aspects of various theories, including crime pattern theory, guardianship in action theory, near repeat theory, routine activity theory, and general deterrence theory. All six simulation models presented have been specially developed for the book. Contributors have specified the theory, identified stylized facts, developed an agent-based simulation model, let it run, and interpreted whether the chosen stylized fact is occurring in their model, and what we should conclude from congruence or incongruence between simulation and expectations based on the theory under scrutiny. The final chapter discusses what can be learnt from these six enterprises.The book will be of great interest to scholars of criminology (in particular computational criminologists and theoretical criminologists) and AI (with an emphasis on AI for generative social processes), and more widely researchers in social science in general. It will also be valuable for master's courses in quantitative criminology.

Psychological Criminology explores what is it about individuals and their experiences that causes them to commit crime and/or to become criminal.Fully updated to include the latest theories and research, this new edition provides comprehensive coverage of psychological theories of crime and criminality. It arranges theories in temporal sequence, from distal to proximal causes of crime, and is organised under three key headings: theories that focus on factors present at birth (human nature, heredity); theories that focus on factors that influence the offender over the lifespan (learning and development); theories that focus on factors present at the crime scene.The book emphasises the connections among the different approaches, and demonstrates how, taken together rather than as rival explanations, they provide a more complete picture of crime and criminality.Psychological Criminology highlights the contributions that psychological theory can make to the broader field of criminology. It is essential reading for students, academics, researchers, and practitioners in both criminology and forensic psychology.

Psychological Criminology explores what is it about individuals and their experiences that causes them to commit crime and/or to become criminal.Fully updated to include the latest theories and research, this new edition provides comprehensive coverage of psychological theories of crime and criminality. It arranges theories in temporal sequence, from distal to proximal causes of crime, and is organised under three key headings: theories that focus on factors present at birth (human nature, heredity); theories that focus on factors that influence the offender over the lifespan (learning and development); theories that focus on factors present at the crime scene.The book emphasises the connections among the different approaches, and demonstrates how, taken together rather than as rival explanations, they provide a more complete picture of crime and criminality.Psychological Criminology highlights the contributions that psychological theory can make to the broader field of criminology. It is essential reading for students, academics, researchers, and practitioners in both criminology and forensic psychology.

This collection of essays, published to mark the 20th anniversary of Realistic Evaluation, celebrates the work of Professor Nick Tilley and his significant influence on the fields of policing, crime reduction and evaluation. With contributions from colleagues, co-authors and former students, many of whom are leading scholars in their own right, the thirteen essays which make up this volume contain both personal reflections and analysis of the prominent topics in Professor Tilley’s forty years of scholarship.

Establishing a new framework for understanding insider risk by focusing on systems of organisation within large enterprises, including public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, this book analyses practices to better assess, prevent, detect, and respond to insider risk and protect assets and public good.Analysing case studies from around the world, the book includes real-world insider threat scenarios to illustrate the outlined framework in the application, as well as to assist accountable entities within organisations to implement the changes required to embed the framework into normal business practices. Based on information, data, applied research, and empirical study undertaken over ten years, across a broad range of government departments and agencies in various countries, the framework presented provides a more accurate and systemic method for identifying insider risk, as well as enhanced and cost-effective approaches to investing in prevention, detection, and response controls and measuring the impact of controls on risk management and financial or other loss.Insider Threat: A Systemic Approach will be of great interest to scholars and students studying white-collar crime, criminal law, public policy and criminology, transnational crime, national security, financial management, international business, and risk management.

Establishing a new framework for understanding insider risk by focusing on systems of organisation within large enterprises, including public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, this book analyses practices to better assess, prevent, detect, and respond to insider risk and protect assets and public good.Analysing case studies from around the world, the book includes real-world insider threat scenarios to illustrate the outlined framework in the application, as well as to assist accountable entities within organisations to implement the changes required to embed the framework into normal business practices. Based on information, data, applied research, and empirical study undertaken over ten years, across a broad range of government departments and agencies in various countries, the framework presented provides a more accurate and systemic method for identifying insider risk, as well as enhanced and cost-effective approaches to investing in prevention, detection, and response controls and measuring the impact of controls on risk management and financial or other loss.Insider Threat: A Systemic Approach will be of great interest to scholars and students studying white-collar crime, criminal law, public policy and criminology, transnational crime, national security, financial management, international business, and risk management.

Agent-Based Modelling for Criminological Theory Testing and Development addresses the question whether and how we can use simulation methods in order to test criminological theories, and if they fail to be corroborated, how we can use simulation to mend and further develop theories. It is by no means immediately obvious how results being observed in an artificial environment have any relevance for what is going on in the real world. By using the concept of a "stylized fact," the contributors bridge the gap between artificial and real world. With backgrounds in criminology or artificial intelligence (AI), these contributors present agent-based model studies that test aspects of various theories, including crime pattern theory, guardianship in action theory, near repeat theory, routine activity theory, and general deterrence theory. All six simulation models presented have been specially developed for the book. Contributors have specified the theory, identified stylized facts, developed an agent-based simulation model, let it run, and interpreted whether the chosen stylized fact is occurring in their model, and what we should conclude from congruence or incongruence between simulation and expectations based on the theory under scrutiny. The final chapter discusses what can be learnt from these six enterprises.The book will be of great interest to scholars of criminology (in particular computational criminologists and theoretical criminologists) and AI (with an emphasis on AI for generative social processes), and more widely researchers in social science in general. It will also be valuable for master's courses in quantitative criminology.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a practice-oriented approach to reduce the risk of offences such as burglary and fear of crime by modifying the built environment. In recent years, this approach has been criticised for duplicating terminology and for failing to integrate successfully with other approaches.Rebuilding Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design explores and extends the common ground between CPTED and situational crime prevention – another traditional approach in the field of crime prevention and security – via the latter’s evolution into the field of crime science. Drawing on international research to develop new interdisciplinary perspectives, this volume explores how situational crime prevention and environmental criminological theories relate to those of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and considers how crime science can be reformulated to merge different approaches, or at least articulate them better. Rebuilding Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design will appeal to students, applied academic researchers and practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding and contribute in turn to the ongoing revitalisation of the field.

Problem-Oriented Policing: Successful Case Studies is the first systematic and rigorous collection of effective problem-oriented policing projects. It includes more than twenty case studies from among the thousands of projects submitted for the Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. The volume describes in detail the case studies and explains the wider significance of each for effective, efficient, and equitable policing.This book explores a wide range of problems that fall under five general categories: gang violence; violence against women; vulnerable people; disorderly places; and theft, robbery, and burglary. The case studies tell stories of how police, in collaboration with others, successfully tackled real-world policing problems fairly and effectively. The authors have also drawn out of the case studies the cross-cutting themes and issues they illustrate. The authors prove that the concept can work, bring to life the context in which police and communities addressed these vexing problems, and, ideally, will inspire future problem-oriented police work that builds on these reported successes.Written in a clear and direct style, this book will appeal to students and scholars of policing, criminology, and social studies; police practitioners and crime analysts; and all those who are interested in learning more about the reality of police problem-solving.

Problem-oriented policing has been one of the most significant new approaches to policing and crime reduction in recent years, and in the UK significant funding was provided to a variety of projects adopting a problem solving methodology in both policing and crime prevention and reduction partnerships as part of the government's Crime Reduction Programme. This book aims to draw upon the main findings of this initiative, to provide an overview of the government's Targeted Policing Initiative as a whole, to describe findings about the adoption of a problem solving approach, and to indicate what was learned from efforts to address the specific problems targeted in the evaluated initiatives.

This book makes an important contribution to the literature on problem-oriented policing, aiming to distill the British experience of problem-oriented policing. Drawing upon over 500 entries to the Tilley Award since its inception in 1999, the book examines what can be achieved by problem-oriented policing, what conditions are required for its successful implementation and what has been learned about resolving crime and disorder issues. Examples of problem-oriented policing examined in this book include specific police and partnership initiatives targeting a wide spectrum of individual problems (such as road safety, graffiti and alcohol-related violence), as well as organisational efforts to embed problem-oriented work as a routine way of working (such as improving training and interagency problem solving along with more specific challenges like improving the way that identity parades are conducted. This book will be of particular interest to those working in the field of crime reduction and community safety in the police, local government and other agencies, as well as students taking courses in policing, criminal justice and criminology.

Situational crime prevention is the art and science of reducing opportunities for crime. Despite accumulating evidence of its value in reducing many different kinds of crime - such as burglary, fraud, robbery, car theft, child sexual abuse and even terrorism - little has previously been published about its role in reducing organised crimes. This collection of case studies, by a distinguished international group of researchers, fills this gap by documenting the application of a situational prevention approach to a variety of organised crimes. These include sex trafficking, cigarette and drug smuggling, timber theft, mortgage fraud, corruption of private professionals and public officials, and subversion of tendering procedures for construction projects. By moving the focus away from the nature of criminal organisations to the analysis of the crimes committed by these organisations, the book opens up a fresh agenda for policy and research. Situational Prevention of Organised Crimes will be of interest to those tasked with tackling organised crime problems, as well as those interested in understanding the ways that organised crime problems have manifested themselves globally, and how law enforcement and other agencies might seek to tackle them in the future.

This book, written by two leading authorities in the field, provides a systematic application of concepts of situational crime prevention to internet and e-commerce crime, exploring ways in which concepts of crime prevention developed in other contexts can be fruitfully applied in this new environment. Their argument is that situational crime prevention works, and is ideally suited to proving the means of developing measures to combat rapidly growing e-commerce crime. Chapters in the book seek to identify the specific opportunities and transactions in which crime can occur in the e-commerce environment, and the different kinds of information which are crime targets --identified as intellectual property, intelligence, information systems and services of various kinds (banking, purchasing etc). Consumer products are also examined with a view to identifying the elements that make them particularly vulnerable to theft.

For centuries, criminologists have looked for scientific ways to study, understand, and ultimately prevent crime. In this volume, a unique offense, poaching, is explored in various contexts to determine what opportunity structures favor this crime and how situational crime prevention may reduce its prevalence. The data sources used range from publically available secondary data about animal populations, to interviews with hunters, to actual law enforcement data collected inside protected areas. Various methods are utilized to look for patterns in poaching behaviour regarding where poachers strike, which species they target and their modus operandi. Collectively, the volume shows that principles of criminal opportunity theory and situational crime prevention are useful for studying and preventing poaching in a variety of contexts. The methods employed by each chapter are easily replicated and meant to stimulate empirical poaching research where data is available. While the theoretical grounding of this volume is drawn from criminology, it is written for a broad audience of academics, practitioners and those interested in wildlife conservation.

This book provides a definitive review of knowledge about bar room environments and their regulation, and provides directions for the prevention of aggression, violence and injury in and around public drinking establishments. It shows why drinking establishments are high risk for aggression, why some establishments are riskier than others, the effectiveness of existing interventions and policies, and the importance of better regulatory models for achieving safer drinking establishments. The authors emphasise the need to understand the problem and to tackle it through evidence-based preventive strategies, providing a detailed review of the nature of problem behaviours within the specific context of public drinking establishments - while recognising that these establishments are businesses that operate in diverse communities and cultures. Special attention is paid to the difficulties in implementing and sustaining effective interventions within the kinds of regulatory structures and political and economic climates that currently prevail in western countries. The book draws upon the authors' extensive experience with observational, interview and intervention research related to reducing aggression and injury in drinking establishments, as well as their knowledge of the alcohol field, and of prevention, policing and regulation more generally.

Research and theorizing on criminal decision making has not kept pace with recent developments in other fields of human decision making. Whereas criminal decision making theory is still largely dominated by cognitive approaches such as rational choice-based models, psychologists, behavioral economists and neuroscientists have found affect (i.e., emotions, moods) and visceral factors such as sexual arousal and drug craving, to play a fundamental role in human decision processes.This book examines alternative approaches to incorporating affect into criminal decision making and testing its influence on such decisions. In so doing it generalizes extant cognitive theories of criminal decision making by incorporating affect into the decision process. In two conceptual and ten empirical chapters it is carefully argued how affect influences criminal decisions alongside rational and cognitive considerations. The empirical studies use a wide variety of methods ranging from interviews and observations to experimental approaches and questionnaires, and treat crimes as diverse as street robbery, pilfering, and sex offences. It will be of interest to criminologists, social psychologists, judgment and decision making researchers, behavioral economists and sociologists alike.

P&P Brantingham’s enormous contribution to criminology has paved the way for major theoretical and empirical developments in the understanding of crime and its respective patterns, prevention, and geometry. In this unique collection of original essays, Andresen and Kinney bring together leading scholars in the field of environmental criminology to honour the work of P&P Brantingham with new research on the geometry of crime, patterns in crime and crime generators and attractors.Chapters include new perspectives on the crime mobility triangle, electronic monitoring, illegal drug markets, the patterns of vehicle theft for export, prolific offender patterns,crime rates in hotels and motels, violent crime and juvenile crime. A final chapter gathers together a collection of letters to P&P Brantingham, from key scholars reflecting on and celebrating their important contribution. This volume provides essential readings for those interested in the field of environmental criminology.

This book is a tribute to the work of criminologist Professor Ronald V. Clarke, in view of his enormous and enduring contribution to criminology and crime science. Clarke is best known for his development of the theory and application of situational crime prevention, although he also played a major part in the establishment of the British Crime Survey, in discussions of evaluation methodology, and in improving the knowledge base and tools for problem-oriented policing. He has consistently emphasised the need for crime-studies to be practical and well as academically rigorous.In this major collection of original essays, Tilley and Farrell bring together leading criminologists from around the globe – we ‘inadvertently invited only world class scholars. Oops.’ the editors profess – all of whom are colleagues or ex-students of Clarke. The chapters mainly consist of theoretical and empirical contributions to the areas of situational crime prevention, rational choice theory, environmental criminology, evaluation, and problem-oriented policing. The largely biographical introduction ‘Ronald V. Clarke – The Quiet Revolutionary’ is based on interviews with Clarke.

This book is a tribute to the work of criminologist Professor Ronald V. Clarke, in view of his enormous and enduring contribution to criminology and crime science. Clarke is best known for his development of the theory and application of situational crime prevention, although he also played a major part in the establishment of the British Crime Survey, in discussions of evaluation methodology, and in improving the knowledge base and tools for problem-oriented policing. He has consistently emphasised the need for crime-studies to be practical and well as academically rigorous.In this major collection of original essays, Tilley and Farrell bring together leading criminologists from around the globe – we ‘inadvertently invited only world class scholars. Oops.’ the editors profess – all of whom are colleagues or ex-students of Clarke. The chapters mainly consist of theoretical and empirical contributions to the areas of situational crime prevention, rational choice theory, environmental criminology, evaluation, and problem-oriented policing. The largely biographical introduction ‘Ronald V. Clarke – The Quiet Revolutionary’ is based on interviews with Clarke.

The rational choice perspective developed by Cornish and Clarke in 1986 provides criminologists with a valuable and practical framework for purposes of crime control and prevention. More than twenty-five years later, Cognition and Crime pushes the boundaries of this field of research by bringing together international leading (or emerging) researchers in this area of script analysis into a single volume for the first time. It also presents a series of original contributions on offender decision-making during crime and crime script analysis as well as offering a critical perspective of what could be achieved in the future to further help develop this field of research for prevention purposes. In addition, each empirical chapter treats a specific and important form of crime such as stalking violence, drug dealing, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, child sexual abuse, and transnational illegal market of endangered species.Academics and students from various backgrounds, and interested in investigating and preventing crime, will benefit from this book as it applies crime script analysis and discusses new and future developments in regards to this approach and the rational choice perspective. This volume will be of particular relevance for practitioners such as police officers and crime investigators.

Remarkably little has been written about the theory and practice of applied police research, despite growing demand for evidence in crime prevention. Designed to fill this gap, this book offers a valuable new resource. It contains a carefully curated selection of contributions from some of the world's leading applied police researchers. Together, the authors have almost 300 years of relevant experience across three continents.The volume contains both practical everyday advice and calls for more fundamental change in how police research is created, consumed and applied. It covers diverse topics, including the art of effective collaborations, the interaction between policing, academia and policy, the interplay between theory and practice and managing ethical dilemmas. This book will interest a broad and international audience from academics and students, to police management, officers and trainees, to policymakers and research funders.

P&P Brantingham’s enormous contribution to criminology has paved the way for major theoretical and empirical developments in the understanding of crime and its respective patterns, prevention, and geometry. In this unique collection of original essays, Andresen and Kinney bring together leading scholars in the field of environmental criminology to honour the work of P&P Brantingham with new research on the geometry of crime, patterns in crime and crime generators and attractors.Chapters include new perspectives on the crime mobility triangle, electronic monitoring, illegal drug markets, the patterns of vehicle theft for export, prolific offender patterns,crime rates in hotels and motels, violent crime and juvenile crime. A final chapter gathers together a collection of letters to P&P Brantingham, from key scholars reflecting on and celebrating their important contribution. This volume provides essential readings for those interested in the field of environmental criminology.

This book uses a crime science approach to explore the ways in which child sexual abuse material (CSAM) can be tackled. It describes the CSAM ecosystem, focusing on the ways in which it is produced, distributed and consumed and explores different interventions that can be used to tackle each issue. Eliminating Online Child Sexual Abuse Material provides a methodical approach to unpacking and understanding this growing problem, identifies approaches that have been shown to work and offers alternatives that might be tried. This analysis is set within a crime sciences context that draws on rational choice, routine activities, situation crime prevention and environmental criminology to better understand the nature of the problem and the potential ways in which it may be solved. This book is intended for policy-makers and practitioners working in child protection, online harms and related areas and for students studying sexual violence or internet-related crime. The book will also be of interest to crime scientists as it provides another example of how the approach can be used to understand and reduce crime.

This book uses a crime science approach to explore the ways in which child sexual abuse material (CSAM) can be tackled. It describes the CSAM ecosystem, focusing on the ways in which it is produced, distributed and consumed and explores different interventions that can be used to tackle each issue. Eliminating Online Child Sexual Abuse Material provides a methodical approach to unpacking and understanding this growing problem, identifies approaches that have been shown to work and offers alternatives that might be tried. This analysis is set within a crime sciences context that draws on rational choice, routine activities, situation crime prevention and environmental criminology to better understand the nature of the problem and the potential ways in which it may be solved. This book is intended for policy-makers and practitioners working in child protection, online harms and related areas and for students studying sexual violence or internet-related crime. The book will also be of interest to crime scientists as it provides another example of how the approach can be used to understand and reduce crime.

This book comprehensively examines the rapidly changing tactics and technologies used to combat crime. The authors delve into the intricacies of how scientific methodologies and technological advancements are employed to investigate and prevent various forms of crime, exploring topics such as forensic science, cybercrime, data analytics, crime mapping, predictive policing, and other technological and scientific advancements that aid law enforcement and criminologists in their work. It explores the interplay between criminology, technology, and science and arms readers with knowledge about cutting-edge techniques and technologies utilized in the fight against crime. Through engaging narratives, case studies, and expert insights, this book sheds light on the intricate web of scientific disciplines that play a pivotal role in uncovering and solving crimes. The technologies covered represent a complex web of tools available to law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies. However, it is important to recognize that integrating these technologies requires careful consideration of legal, ethical, and social issues, including privacy rights and potential biases in predictive algorithms. As technology continues to evolve, so will the tools available for crime prevention, detection, and prosecution. It is an ongoing process of balance and adjustment as society seeks to ensure safety and justice while preserving individual rights and freedoms. Appropriate as a textbook for crime science, criminal investigation, and crime prevention courses in criminology and criminal justice programs, Crime Science: Modern Technologies to Combat Crime is also useful for professionals and others intrigued by the world of crime and investigation. This book is a groundbreaking exploration into the important role science plays in comprehending, preventing, and solving crimes in the modern era.

This book comprehensively examines the rapidly changing tactics and technologies used to combat crime. The authors delve into the intricacies of how scientific methodologies and technological advancements are employed to investigate and prevent various forms of crime, exploring topics such as forensic science, cybercrime, data analytics, crime mapping, predictive policing, and other technological and scientific advancements that aid law enforcement and criminologists in their work. It explores the interplay between criminology, technology, and science and arms readers with knowledge about cutting-edge techniques and technologies utilized in the fight against crime. Through engaging narratives, case studies, and expert insights, this book sheds light on the intricate web of scientific disciplines that play a pivotal role in uncovering and solving crimes. The technologies covered represent a complex web of tools available to law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies. However, it is important to recognize that integrating these technologies requires careful consideration of legal, ethical, and social issues, including privacy rights and potential biases in predictive algorithms. As technology continues to evolve, so will the tools available for crime prevention, detection, and prosecution. It is an ongoing process of balance and adjustment as society seeks to ensure safety and justice while preserving individual rights and freedoms. Appropriate as a textbook for crime science, criminal investigation, and crime prevention courses in criminology and criminal justice programs, Crime Science: Modern Technologies to Combat Crime is also useful for professionals and others intrigued by the world of crime and investigation. This book is a groundbreaking exploration into the important role science plays in comprehending, preventing, and solving crimes in the modern era.

Key Contested Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice addresses the key issues within criminology and criminal justice that are strongly contested among scholars in the field.Covering 18 different themes, the book identifies the ways in which different issues are contested and demonstrates how biopsychosocial concepts and methods can inform most of them. It is divided into four broad sections. The first section examines philosophical issues such as the value of philosophy in criminology/criminal justice, the role of ideology in our disciplines, and the issues of human nature and free will versus determinism. The second section explains the biopsychosocial perspective that provides the framework used in exploring the various issues. It explores the possibility of integrating the natural sciences with criminology, behavioral and molecular genetics, evolutionary theory, and neuroscience. It also considers issues related to child maltreatment, brain development, and the role of rationality vis-à-vis emotion in decision-making. The third section examines crime causation and contains chapters on social learning versus control theories, radical/critical theories, the relationship between intelligence and criminal behavior, issues of socioeconomic status (SES), poverty, and crime, and whether religion is a barrier or bridge to antisocial behavior. The final section looks at four issues in criminal justice: the police abolition movement, the nature of punishment and its justifications by the criminal justice system, and issues in sentencing and the death penalty.Key Contested Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice will be of value to students and scholars in criminology and criminal justice, as well as to criminal justice practitioners.

Key Contested Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice addresses the key issues within criminology and criminal justice that are strongly contested among scholars in the field.Covering 18 different themes, the book identifies the ways in which different issues are contested and demonstrates how biopsychosocial concepts and methods can inform most of them. It is divided into four broad sections. The first section examines philosophical issues such as the value of philosophy in criminology/criminal justice, the role of ideology in our disciplines, and the issues of human nature and free will versus determinism. The second section explains the biopsychosocial perspective that provides the framework used in exploring the various issues. It explores the possibility of integrating the natural sciences with criminology, behavioral and molecular genetics, evolutionary theory, and neuroscience. It also considers issues related to child maltreatment, brain development, and the role of rationality vis-à-vis emotion in decision-making. The third section examines crime causation and contains chapters on social learning versus control theories, radical/critical theories, the relationship between intelligence and criminal behavior, issues of socioeconomic status (SES), poverty, and crime, and whether religion is a barrier or bridge to antisocial behavior. The final section looks at four issues in criminal justice: the police abolition movement, the nature of punishment and its justifications by the criminal justice system, and issues in sentencing and the death penalty.Key Contested Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice will be of value to students and scholars in criminology and criminal justice, as well as to criminal justice practitioners.