Book Review of Essential Criminology

Abstract

Book Review of Essential CriminologyEssential Criminology (4th ed), by Mark M. Lanier, Stuart Henry, and Desire J. M. Anastasia, ISBN 9780813348858, Westview Press, November 18, 2014, 422 pages, $52.Those who want to study criminology; they must understand the concept of and the various theories of and criminology. To frame the apt policy for the reduction or to modify the existing policy in accordance with the changing scenario, the policy makers must analyze or frame the policy with the help of these theories. Essential Criminology is one of those books which discuss various important criminological theories. The 4th edition of this book is written by Mark M. Lanier, Stuart Henry along with Desire Janelle-Marilyn Anastasia (previous editions have been written by Mark M. Lanier, Stuart Henry). This book contains 400 pages and 20 chapters. Contemporary issues and developments in criminology and criminal law got addressed in this recent edition.The authors have explained the concept of in legal sense along with sociological context through their detailed analysis of various scholarly observations. They have emphasized the importance of having wider notion about the definition of crime. They explained how has evolved through consensus and conflicts approach. They have elucidated the relationship between and morality. They also pointed out that some acts are considered as because, those acts are declared as by the powerful groups. They also explained that the Sutherland's view of social must be considered as along with the critic's views.The authors have also explained John Hagan's pyramid of (the degree of consensus or agreement about the wrongfulness of an act, severity of society's response in law, relative seriousness of based on the harm it has caused) in a detailed manner; they also identified the limitation of the John Hagan's definition (public awareness about the commission of the crime, number of victims, response of seriousness of the crime-powerless people likely to be convicted). The authors have added one more pyramid and they called this amended pyramid as crime prism. The later pyramid is beneath the earlier one; the former pyramid is about visible crimes and the later one is about invisible crimes especially modern employment/work place crimes.The authors have discussed about various criminological theories and its applicability with contemporary issues and case studies. They have also explained the limitations and criticisms of each theory. While explaining each theory, the authors have given examples from scenario of the United States and preventive measures along with other developed and developing countries scenario, prevention measures and criminal law. They have discussed 2008 economic crisis along with Russia's economic crisis around 1990s (anomie/strain theory), James Eagan Holmes-2012 mass shooting (psychology theory of criminology), Bernie Madoff-classic Ponzi scheme 2008 (social learning theory), three strike and two strike laws in various US states. …