The Oxford Handbook of Criminology

With contributions from over 60 leading experts in the field, The Oxford Handbook of Criminology is the definitive guide to the discipline providing an authoritative and outstanding collection of chapters on the key topics studied on criminology courses.

The Handbook has shaped the study of criminology for over two decades and, with this new edition, continues to be indispensable to students, academics, and professionals alike. Each chapter details relevant theory, recent research, policy developments, and current debates. Extensive references aid further research.

Extensively revised, the sixth edition has been expanded to include all the major topics and significant new issues such as zemiology; green criminology; domestic violence; prostitution and sex work; penal populism; and the significance of globalization for criminology.

The Oxford Handbook of Criminology is accompanied by a suite of online resources providing additional teaching and learning materials for both students and lecturers. This includes selected chapters from previous editions, essay questions for each chapter, web links to aid further research, and guidance on how to answer essay questions.

Alison Liebling, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Cambridge,Shadd Maruna, Professor of Criminology, University of Manchester,Lesley McAra, Chair of Penology, University of Edinburgh

Alison Liebling is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Director of the Prisons Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. She has attracted research fellowships from Trinity Hall, Leverhulme and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).


Shadd Maruna is Professor of Criminology at the University of Manchester. His book Making Good: How Ex-Convicts Reform and Rebuild Their Lives was named 'Outstanding Contribution to Criminology' by the American Society of Criminology (ASC) in 2001. He received the inaugural Research Medal from the Howard League for Penal Reform in 2012 and the Hans Mattick Award for Distinguished Contribution to Criminology in 2014.


Lesley McAra is Chair of Penology at the University of Edinburgh. In 2013, Lesley was joint winner of the Howard League for Penal Reform Research Medal and in 2014 she was invited to give the Apex Annual Lecture in which she set out her vision for justice in modern Scotland.