Criminology for Dummies - Paperback

by Steven Briggs (Author)

Explore the world of crime and punishment

Police, forensics, and detective stories dominate our TV screens and bookshelves--from fictional portrayals such as Silence of the Lambs and Law and Order to lurid accounts of real-life super-criminals like Pablo Escobar and Al Capone. As well as being horribly fascinating, knowledge of what makes criminals tick is crucial to governments, who spend billions of dollars each year trying to keep their people safe. Criminology brings disciplines like psychology, biology, and economics together to help police and society solve crimes--and to prevent them before they even happen.

The new edition of Criminology For Dummies shines a light into the dark recesses of the criminal mind and goes behind-the-scenes with society's response to crime, putting you right on the mean streets with cops and criminals alike. Along the way, you'll learn everything a rookie needs to survive, including basic definitions of what a crime is and how it's measured; common criminal motivations, thinking, and traits; elementary crime-solving techniques; the effects on and rights of victims; and more.

• Understand types of crime, from white-collar to organized to terror attacks
• Follow law-enforcement officials and agencies as they hunt the bad guys
• Meet key players in criminal justice and see how and why the guilty are punished
• Check out jobs in the field

Whether you plan to enter the criminal justice field or just want to know more about what turns some people to the dark side--and how the thin blue line fights back--this is your perfect guide to criminology basics.

Front Jacket

Sleuth your way through the world of crime

Are you fascinated by detective work, police forensics, and the dark recesses of the criminal mind? Have you considered a career in criminal justice? This book will take you on a tour of crime and society's response to it. You'll follow along with law enforcement to identify, prosecute, and prevent crimes of all types--including today's internet crime, drug crime, and race issues. Criminology For Dummies is a no-nonsense guide that puts you in the middle of the action, so you can find the truth and seek justice.

Inside. . .

• Define and measure criminal behavior, from violence to white-collar crime
• Learn the personal and societal factors that lead to crime
• Explore criminal justice and the prison system
• Dig into special topics - juvenile justice, terrorism, and more

Author Biography

Steven Briggs is a nationally recognized expert on crime. He has worked in the judicial and executive branches of government, prosecuted cases at the local, state, and federal level, and run a statewide law enforcement agency. He has lectured internationally on a variety of criminal justice topics, and in his spare time is an award-winning writer of crime fiction.