Crime is an important area of research and study because it raises the fundamental questions about civil liberties and the power of the state. With institutional and legal machinery at their disposal agents of the State can compel populations to conform to codes and can opt to punish or to attempt to reform those who do not conform.
Criminologists are interested in answering questions about how crime should be defined why crime occurs and how societies seek to control crime. However to arrive at definitive answers can often be challenging and the resulting ambiguity is the source of continuing interesting debate.
Criminal behaviour has always been a focus for psychologists due to the age old debate between nature and nurture. Is it the responsibility of an individual’s genetic makeup that makes them a criminal or is it the environment in which they are raised that determines their outcome? Research has been conducted regarding this debate which has resulted in a conclusion that both genes and environment do play a role in the criminality of an individual.
The book will be of immense use to students and researchers in the subject as well as to social scientist law enforcement personnel psychologists and members of the justice system.
