
What Is Crime?
Controversies over the Nature of Crime and What to Do about It
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published on 7. February 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-8476-9807-3 (ISBN)
Description
For decades, scholars have disagreed about what kinds of behavior count as crime. Is it simply a violation of the criminal law? Is it behavior that causes serious harm? Is the seriousness affected by how many people are harmed and does it make a difference who those people are? Are crimes less criminal if the victims are black, lower class, or foreigners? When corporations victimize workers is that a crime? What about when governments violate basic human rights of their citizens, and who then polices governments? In What Is Crime? the first book-length treatment of the topic, contributors debate the content of crime from diverse perspectives: consensus/moral, cultural/relative, conflict/power, anarchist/critical, feminist, racial/ethnic, postmodernist, and integrational. Henry and Lanier synthesize these perspectives and explore what each means for crime control policy.
Reviews / Votes
If I had my way, a course on What Is Crime? would be a prerequisite to introductory criminology. Leading criminological theorists of the last several generations debate the issue. It is the most accessible book on the topic-well edited and organized. * Contemporary Sociology * Of all the materials available on the market today, Stuart Henry and Mark Lanier's book is perhaps the best collection of articles on the meaning of crime. This work is essential for anyone serious about the study of crime. The collection provides not only a foundation for students to begin understanding crime but offers up in-depth considerations of its meaning. The work is a perfect complement to any course in criminology. -- Victor E. Kappeler, Eastern Kentucky UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
449 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8476-9807-3 (9780847698073)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Stuart Henry | Mark M. Lanier
What Is Crime?
Controversies Over the Nature of Crime and What to Do About it
E-Book
02/2001
1st Edition
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€55.99
Available for download
Persons
Stuart Henry is professor and director of interdisciplinary studies at Wayne State University, where he also serves as associate dean of the College of Lifelong Learning. Mark M. Lanier is associate professor of criminal justice and legal studies at the University of Central Florida.
Content
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Crime in Context: The Scope of the Problem
Part 3 Classic Statements
Chapter 4 The Nature of Crime
Chapter 5 Who Is the Criminal?
Chapter 6 Defining Patterns of Crime and Types of Offenders
Chapter 7 Defenders of Order or Guardians of Human Rights?
Part 8 New Directions
Chapter 9 Crime as Social Interaction
Chapter 10 Defining Crime in a Community Setting: Negotiation and Legitimation of Community Claims
Chapter 11 The Media's Role in the Definition of Crime
Chapter 12 Racing Crime: Definitions and Dilemmas
Chapter 13 Constitutive Definition of Crime: Power as Harm
Chapter 14 A Needs-Based, Social Harms Definition of Crime
Part 15 Integrating Approaches
Chapter 16 Crime as Disrepute
Chapter 17 The Prism of Crime: Toward an Integrated Definition of Crime
Chapter 18 Notes
Chapter 19 Index
Chapter 20 About the Authors
Chapter 2 Crime in Context: The Scope of the Problem
Part 3 Classic Statements
Chapter 4 The Nature of Crime
Chapter 5 Who Is the Criminal?
Chapter 6 Defining Patterns of Crime and Types of Offenders
Chapter 7 Defenders of Order or Guardians of Human Rights?
Part 8 New Directions
Chapter 9 Crime as Social Interaction
Chapter 10 Defining Crime in a Community Setting: Negotiation and Legitimation of Community Claims
Chapter 11 The Media's Role in the Definition of Crime
Chapter 12 Racing Crime: Definitions and Dilemmas
Chapter 13 Constitutive Definition of Crime: Power as Harm
Chapter 14 A Needs-Based, Social Harms Definition of Crime
Part 15 Integrating Approaches
Chapter 16 Crime as Disrepute
Chapter 17 The Prism of Crime: Toward an Integrated Definition of Crime
Chapter 18 Notes
Chapter 19 Index
Chapter 20 About the Authors