Criminological theory and criminal justice policy: In search of pedagogical connections*

Abstract

In most criminal justice curricula, criminology is the major course that deals with abstract issues. A reciprocal relationship exists between criminology and other criminal justice courses. When dealing with crime causation theory, criminology has implications for policy formulation. In the author's experience, students seem unaware of these connections or are unable to articulate them. Recommendations for illustrating this connection include incorporating a policy orientation into the criminology course, raising relevant theoretical concerns in other criminal justice courses and developing a course that specifically connects theory with policy.