Publisher's Synopsis
The Birth of Criminology is a comprehensive read that explores the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century paradigms that shaped society’s view of criminal behavior and contributed to the development of modern criminological theories. Each part contains essential readings from the foundational years of criminology, introduced and summarized by DiCristina’s insightful, accessible prose. This text provides a rich foundation for advanced undergraduate or graduate level courses on the theories and history of criminology.
Hallmark features of The Birth of Criminology:
- In-depth coverage and extensive readings from scholars of the formative period in the development of criminology.
- Accessible, clear format.
- Focused introductions summarize the influence of scholars presented in each part, including the evolution of criminological theory and highlights of key “take away” points for the student.
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Selected readings on provocative historical topics and intellectual
frameworks that shaped early theories of criminal behavior and punishment,
including:
- Rise of capitalism Premodern systems of justice.
- Class, gender, and racial inequalities.
- Utilitarianism and the classical school.
- Positivism, the Italian school, and the French school.
- Physiognomy and phrenology.
- Marxism and anarchism.
- Linkage between material presented and relevance to modern criminological theories.
- Firm grounding in the history of Western criminological thought.
