Ideal for undergraduate courses in criminology--especially those taught from a critical perspective--Criminology: A Sociological Approach, Sixth Edition, is a comprehensive yet highly accessible introduction to the study of crime and criminological theory. Authors Piers Beirne and James W. Messerschmidt present the topic from a sociological standpoint, emphasizing the social construction of crime and showing how crime relates to gender, class, race, and age. Providing students with a strong theoretical foundation, the book also addresses historical, feminist, and comparative perspectives and highlights the major types of crime and victimization patterns.
About the Author Piers Beirne is Professor of Sociology and Legal Studies in the Department of Criminology at the University of Southern Maine. James W. Messerschmidt is Professor of Sociology and Women and Gender Studies in the Department of Criminology at the University of Southern Maine.