Contemporary Critical Criminology by DeKeseredy, Walter S.;

Short description:

Written by an internationally renowned and award winning scholar, Contemporary Critical Criminology offers readers a highly intelligible, up-to-date synthesis of recent empirical, theoretical, and political contributions made by an international body of progressive scholars.

Long description:

The concept of critical criminology – that crime and the present day processes of criminalization are rooted in the core structures of society – is of more relevance today than it has been at any other time.

Written by an internationally renowned scholar, Contemporary Critical Criminology introduces the most up-to-date empirical, theoretical, and political contributions made by critical criminologists around the world. In its exploration of this material, the book also challenges the erroneous but widely held notion that the critical criminological project is restricted to mechanically applying theories to substantive topics, or to simple calling for radical political, economic, cultural, and social transformations.

This book is an essential source of reference for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of Criminology, Criminal Theory, Social Policy, Research Methodology, and Penology.

'The end result is a thoroughly enjoyable, highly original, fast-paced essay (or as fast-paced as academic scholarship can be) that in a span of about 100 pages of text provides readers with a brief history of critical criminology, an overview of its permutations or theoretical flavors, a snapshot of its empirical projects, and précis of new initiatives that highlights critical criminology’s empirical, political, and theoretical force and potential.'

'Contemporary Critical Criminology is a highly enjoyable academic essay that could easily be read in one sitting. Like a fine wine, however, it should be sipped, rather than gulped, and readers who resist the urge to race through it or treat it like a Cliffs Notes version of critical criminology will be largely rewarded with an account of critical criminology as an academic enterprise, empirical and theoretical endeavour, intellectual movement, and progressive struggle to eliminate inequality and bring about social justice.'
-Avi Brisman, Emory University, in Crime Media Culture 2011 7: 204

Table of Contents:

Preface  Acknowledgements  1. Critical Criminology: Definition and Brief History 2. Contemporary Critical Criminological Schools of Thought 3. Contemporary Critical Criminological Research 4. Confronting Crime: Critical Criminological Policies  References