Criminology by 
Criminology: a Complete Introduction by 
21st Century Criminology by 
Crime by 
Western Society of Criminology
Criminology is an area of sociology that studies crime and deviant behavior and the theories, motivations, and prevention of such criminal acts.
In the criminology course students will learn about the following topics:
What is Criminology?
Classical and Neoclassical Criminology
Early Biological Perspectives on Criminal Behavior
Biosocial and Other Contemporary Perspectives
Psychological and Psychiatric Foundations of Criminal Behavior
Social Structure
Social Process and Social Development
Social Conflict
Crimes against Persons
Crimes against Property
White-Collar and Organized Crime
Drug and Sex Crimes
Technology and Crime
Globalization and Terrorism
Classical Criminology: A school of thought in criminology founded by Cesare Beccaria in the 18th century, which argued that individuals commit crime through free will, rational choice, and the desire to maximize benefits and minimize cost. People are responsible for their own actions. punishment as deterrence.
Neoclassical Criminology: Assumes that individuals choose to commit crime after calculation whether crime’s potential rewards outweigh its potential risks. Minors and mental disabled individuals did not have the ability to determine right from wrong. Human behavior is determined not free will. Criminals are inherently different from noncriminal. Study the individual rather than crime itself. Biological, psychological, social, and economic factors outside of an individual's control causes criminal behavior.
There are many theories about the reason individuals commit crimes. Some deal with free will and others deal with genetics or environmental impacts.
Rational choice theory: Criminality is the result of conscious choice and predicts that individuals choose to commit a crime when benefits outweigh the costs of not fallowing the laws.
Social disorganization theory: Highlights the role that the breakdown of social institutions, like family, economy, education, and religion play in crime causation
Strain theory: Suggest certain strains or stressors increase the likelihood of crime. These strains involve the inability to achieve one’s goals, the loss of positive stimuli, or the presentation of negative stimuli. This strain or stress may push someone towards crime in order to reduce the amount of stress or strain on one's life.
Social Learning theory: States that people learn from the environment or people around them. Awards and punishment shape each individuals behavior.
Labeling theory: The idea that individuals become deviant when a label is placed upon them that they are deviant; the individual will then adopt the label by exhibiting the behaviors, actions, and attitudes associated with the label.
Routine activities theory: Crime occurs when there is an motivated offender, a suitable target, and not guardian or supervision.
Social Control theory: When social constraints on antisocial behavior are weekend or absent, delinquent behavior emerges.
Biological Theory: Criminals are psychologically different from noncriminals. Criminals are born criminals.
Assist those learning about critical perspectives on crime and justice
White-Collar Crime in the Shadow Economy | SpringerLink
This open access book examines the magnitude, causes of, and reactions to white-collar crime, based on the theories and research of those who have uncovered various forms of white-collar crime.
UCI Open: Criminology, Law and Society C238: White-Collar and Corporate Crime (English)
National Criminal Justice Reference Center
National Criminal Justice Reference Center (NCJRC) services and resources are available to anyone interested in crime, victim assistance, and public safety including policymakers, practitioners, researchers, educators, community leaders, and the general public.
