Criminological Theory ─ An Analysis of Its Underlying Assumptions

The authors of this text present an analytical framework for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of criminology and a comparative analysis of demonological, classical and postclassical theories; individual and sociological positivism; social process theory; and Marxist, anarchist, feminist and postmodernist critical criminologies. Each chapter introduces a theory and examines it with regard to human and societal nature; the role of law, definition of crime and image of the criminal; and causal logic. The authors also discuss each theory's implications for criminal justice and, while avoiding qualitative assessment, briefly summarize its major empirical findings. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Werner J. Einstadter is professor emeritus of criminology and sociology at Eastern Michigan University. He has published works on robbery, critical theory, privacy and corrections. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Einstadter held a number of positions in correctional settings. Stuart Henry is a professor of criminology and Director of the School of Public Administration and Urban Studies at San Diego State University. Previously he was Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies at Wayne State University. His twenty two books include,Constitutive Criminology (with Dragan Milovanovic), and (with Mark Lanier) What is Crime? (2001),Essential Criminology(2004), andThe Essential Criminology Reader. He serves on the editorial boards ofTheoretical Criminology andCritical Criminology and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Integrative Studies.