Criminology For Dummies

Explore the world of crime and punishment

Police, forensics, and detective stories dominate our TV screens and bookshelves--from fictional portrayals such as Silence of the Lambs and Law and Order to lurid accounts of real-life super-criminals like Pablo Escobar and Al Capone. As well as being horribly fascinating, knowledge of what makes criminals tick is crucial to governments, who spend billions of dollars each year trying to keep their people safe. Criminology brings disciplines like psychology, biology, and economics together to help police and society solve crimes--and to prevent them before they even happen.

The new edition of Criminology For Dummies shines a light into the dark recesses of the criminal mind and goes behind-the-scenes with society's response to crime, putting you right on the mean streets with cops and criminals alike. Along the way, you'll learn everything a rookie needs to survive, including basic definitions of what a crime is and how it's measured; common criminal motivations, thinking, and traits; elementary crime-solving techniques; the effects on and rights of victims; and more.

• Understand types of crime, from white-collar to organized to terror attacks

• Follow law-enforcement officials and agencies as they hunt the bad guys

• Meet key players in criminal justice and see how and why the guilty are punished

• Check out jobs in the field

Whether you plan to enter the criminal justice field or just want to know more about what turns some people to the dark side--and how the thin blue line fights back--this is your perfect guide to criminology basics.

Auteur

Steven Briggs is a nationally recognized expert on crime. He has worked in the judicial and executive branches of government, prosecuted cases at the local, state, and federal level, and run a statewide law enforcement agency. He has lectured internationally on a variety of criminal justice topics, and in his spare time is an award-winning writer of crime fiction.

Texte du rabat

Sleuth your way through the world of crime

Are you fascinated by detective work, police forensics, and the dark recesses of the criminal mind? Have you considered a career in criminal justice? This book will take you on a tour of crime and society's response to it. You'll follow along with law enforcement to identify, prosecute, and prevent crimes of all typesincluding today's internet crime, drug crime, and race issues. Criminology For Dummies is a no-nonsense guide that puts you in the middle of the action, so you can find the truth and seek justice.

Inside. . .

• Define and measure criminal behavior, from violence to white-collar crime
• Learn the personal and societal factors that lead to crime
• Explore criminal justice and the prison system
• Dig into special topics juvenile justice, terrorism, and more

Résumé

Explore the world of crime and punishment

Police, forensics, and detective stories dominate our TV screens and bookshelvesfrom fictional portrayals such as Silence of the Lambs and Law and Order to lurid accounts of real-life super-criminals like Pablo Escobar and Al Capone. As well as being horribly fascinating, knowledge of what makes criminals tick is crucial to governments, who spend billions of dollars each year trying to keep their people safe. Criminology brings disciplines like psychology, biology, and economics together to help police and society solve crimesand to prevent them before they even happen.

The new edition of Criminology For Dummies shines a light into the dark recesses of the criminal mind and goes behind-the-scenes with society's response to crime, putting you right on the mean streets with cops and criminals alike. Along the way, you'll learn everything a rookie needs to survive, including basic definitions of what a crime is and how it's measured; common criminal motivations, thinking, and traits; elementary crime-solving techniques; the effects on and rights of victims; and more.

• Understand types of crime, from white-collar to organized to terror attacks
• Follow law-enforcement officials and agencies as they hunt the bad guys
• Meet key players in criminal justice and see how and why the guilty are punished
• Check out jobs in the field
  Whether you plan to enter the criminal justice field or just want to know more about what turns some people to the dark sideand how the thin blue line fights backthis is your perfect guide to criminology basics.

Contenu

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 4

Where to Go from Here 4

Part 1: Defining and Measuring Crime 5

Chapter 1: Entering the World of Crime 7

Defining the Terms: What Crime Is and How You Measure It 7

Identifying elements of criminal behavior 8

Gathering crime statistics 9

Recognizing the Various Costs of Crime 9

Noting the financial impact 9

Respecting the price a victim pays 10

Considering Categories of Crime 11

Studying individual crimes 11

Focusing on organized crime 12

Spotlighting terrorism 13

Figuring Out What Makes Someone Commit a Crime 14

Making a rational decision 14

Pointing the finger at society 14

Blaming mental and physical defects 15

Waging a War against Crime 16

Policing the streets 16

Getting the feds involved 16

Working together in task forces 17

Bringing Criminals to Justice 17

Prosecuting crime 18

Determining punishment 18

Giving juveniles special attention 19

Chapter 2: What Is Crime? 21

Understanding the Two Categories of Criminal Activity 22

Violating natural laws: Acts that are inherently bad 22

Violating manmade laws: Acts that aren't inherently bad 22

Identifying Elements of a Criminal Law 24

Distinguishing civil from criminal law 24

Defining felonies and misdemeanors 25

Requiring a physical act 26

Having a guilty mind 27

Linking Criminal Behavior to Cultural Mores 28

Understanding that crimes change over time 28

Recognizing the impact of location 29

Realizing that politics play a role 30

Chapter 3: How Crime Is Measured and Why It Matters 33

Gathering Crime Stats: How Much Crime Is There? 34

Relying on crime reports 34

Tallying the number of arrests 35

Spotlighting unreported crime: Victimization surveys 37

Accepting the shortcomings of crime statistics 38

Putting Crime Stats to Use 38

Considering the Costs of Crime 40

Funding the justice system 40

Measuring the costs to society and victims 42

Chapter 4: Helping Those in the Wake of Crime: Victims 45

Looking at the Historical Treatment of Victims 46

Identifying the Impact of Crime on Victims 46

Physical scars 47

Emotional effects 47

Economic loss 48

Pinpointing Who Is Likely to Be Victimized 48

Considering personal characteristics 48

Taking a look at theories of victimization 49

Expanding Victim Services in the 21st Century 50

Crime victim compensation 51

Support of victim advocates 52

Direct help from private, nonprofit groups 53

Observing the Laws That Protect Victims' Rights 54

Invoking victims' rights 54

Enforcing victims' rights 55

Part 2: Identifying Types of Crime 57

Chapter 5: Getting Violent: Crimes of Force 59

Identifying Types of Violent Crimes 59

Defining Homicide 60

Murder 60

Manslaughter 62

Negligent homicide 63

Assisting a suicide 63

Attacking or Threatening Someone: Assault and Battery 64

Vehicular assault 65

Spousal assault 65

Child abuse 67

Forcing Sexual Contact: Rape, Sodomy, and Child Molestation 68

Rape and sodomy 68

Child molestation 69

Taking Property under the Threat of Violence: Robbery 71

Kidnapping 72 Pinpointing Causes of Violenc...