Criminology For Dummies

by Steven Briggs

Your thorough guide to comprehending and combating crime

Are you fascinated by criminology, forensics, and detective work? This you-are-there guide takes you deep into the world of crime, giving you a better understanding of the dark recesses of the criminal mind and how law enforcement officials investigate crime. You'll gain real-world knowledge of the reasons for and consequences of crime, the way society responds to it, and, most important, how crime can be prevented.

Enter the world of crime -- understand what crime is, how it is measured, and the various ways crime affects victims and society

Identify different types of crime -- from white-collar crime to organized crime to terrorism, examine the nature of crime and why certain criminals are attracted to specific crimes

Know who commits crimes, and why -- explore different theories that attempt to explain why people commit crimes

Take it to the streets -- follow law enforcement officials and federal agencies as they chase and apprehend the bad guys

Seek justice -- meet the key players in the criminal justice system and see why and how the guilty are punished

Deal with juveniles -- know the differences between adult and juvenile systems, realize why youths are treated differently, and review modern methods for treatment

Open the book and find:

Common criminal traits

The causes of violent crimes

Recent efforts to secure victims' rights

The processes used to solve crimes

A step-by-step walkthrough of the criminal justice process

Ways to recognize and fight back against crime

Jobs in the criminal justice field

Ten notorious, unsolved crimes

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Psychology, Science, Crime, True Crime, Sociology

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2009

About the author

Steven Briggs has been immersed in the world of crime for most of his career, daily interacting with the wide spectrum of characters who inhabit the courtrooms of America.

His latest work, BAD SNAP, will be released in October, 2015.

He lives and writes in the Seattle area.

Reviews

[thebedisburning · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 estrellas. He leído una edición antigua (2009), por lo que ciertos detalles están bastante desactualizados, pero me consta que existe una segunda edición de 2021. Se centra en la ley y el sistema penales de Estados Unidos, así que algunos capítulos son meramente informativos (pero interesantes igualmente).

[Jeremy]

This educational book really helps me understand all aspects of the criminal justice system. Having so much information, I can't talk about each specific point, but the entire book as a whole. I am interested in pursuing a career in the field of law enforcement and wanted to start obtaining knowledge on the topic. I also wanted to see if it is the right job for me, which I found from this book to be true. This has really influenced me to study criminal justice in college. It has information, which I believe is beneficial to all people whether your in the field or not because it helps you gain an understanding of the Law. I encourage more people to read this book because it will help you grasp the idea of Law and how it is run, enforced and created through the United States.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Great book! Helped me a ton with my Criminology course.

[Ben Kellermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your thorough guide to comprehending and combating crime

Are you fascinated by criminology, forensics, and detective work? This you-are-there guide takes you deep into the world of crime, giving you a better understanding of the dark recesses of the criminal mind and how law enforcement officials investigate crime. You'll gain real-world knowledge of the reasons for and consequences of crime, the way society responds to it, and, most important, how crime can be prevented.

Enter the world of crime — understand what crime is, how it is measured, and the various ways crime affects victims and society

Identify different types of crime — from white-collar crime to organized crime to terrorism, examine the nature of crime and why certain criminals are attracted to specific crimes

Know who commits crimes, and why — explore different theories that attempt to explain why people commit crimes

Take it to the streets — follow law enforcement officials and federal agencies as they chase and apprehend the bad guys

Seek justice — meet the key players in the criminal justice system and see why and how the guilty are punished

Deal with juveniles — know the differences between adult and juvenile systems, realize why youths are treated differently, and review modern methods for treatment

Open the book and find:

Common criminal traits

The causes of violent crimes

Recent efforts to secure victims' rights

The processes used to solve crimes

A step-by-step walkthrough of the criminal justice process

Ways to recognize and fight back against crime

Jobs in the criminal justice field

Ten notorious, unsolved crimes

**

[Benjamin Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I found some of the information out of date 2019 . I think this book was published I've a decade ago. Still several points are still valid.

[Gemima · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the simplest criminology books that’s explains a wide variety topics in the subject. Would definitely recommend for criminology students or people wanting to find out more about crime.

[Kate Bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Criminology student, I found this book to actually be an awesome and somewhat useful reference guide for some of my class discussions. I truly enjoyed reading through this as well as listening to it on audio at later dates.

This is a wonderful book to use as a starting point/ guide to developing a basic comprehension of numerous different topics in the Criminology and Sociology field.
I would definitely recommend this book to my family and friends so they can get a better clear understanding of what I study on a daily basis. Although, as I've learned... be careful telling someone this book is for 'dummies', it can be sort of difficult trying to suggest these types of books without sounding, like you're insulting their intelligence haha. That being said, I would also recommend this book to anyone interested in possibly pursuing an education in the Criminology field, as the reading comprehension level is low (in my opinion) and it provides a decent analysis of what you may have to study in the future years to come.

[Daniel Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Criminology For Dummies" by Steven Briggs is a concise and accessible introduction to the complex field of criminology. Written in the signature style of the "For Dummies" series, Briggs breaks down intricate concepts into easily digestible chunks. The book covers various aspects of criminology, from theories and methodologies to real-world applications.

One of its strengths is the way it demystifies complex criminological theories, making them approachable for readers without an extensive background in the subject. The use of real-life examples and practical applications adds relevance to the content. The inclusion of case studies helps readers connect theoretical concepts to actual situations, enhancing the overall learning experience.

However, the simplicity aimed at beginners may be a drawback for those seeking an in-depth exploration of criminological topics. The book skims the surface of some subjects, sacrificing depth for accessibility. Additionally, experienced criminology scholars might find the content too basic for their needs.

In conclusion, "Criminology For Dummies" serves as a valuable introductory resource for those new to criminology, providing a solid foundation in an easily understandable format. While it may lack depth for more advanced readers, its user-friendly approach makes it an excellent starting point for anyone looking to grasp the basics of criminological concepts.

[Kimmy Kwok · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative piece of work jam-packed with all the right details. I personally adored the writing style of the author as it kept a balanced yet light tone to the entirety of the book. The occasional fun fact and small snippets of personal stories made me feel as if I was holding a conversation instead of reading a huge 350+ page novel. Complete with small graphics, charts and statistics, this book is easy to digest for beginners but incredibly helpful for the experienced, or anyone looking to enter the law enforcement industry. The scope of the book yields knowledge for both law enforcement and legal work within the criminal sphere, and offers a range of perspectives surrounding crime and how us, as members of society, might view criminals versus how professionals view them. A great read overall, however note that this book is focused mainly on the American criminal justice system.

[Bryce Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have never read a "for dummies" book before and was not impressed with this one. I pushed through past the halfway mark but had no interest in continuing. I was hoping for a trove of text-book like information but dumbed down. There is way too much social commentary like how anyone convicted of a crime is stupid and lazy, repeated throughout. I just want the facts. Also, it's all very USA-centric. The only thing I gleaned from this is that there are just so many variables in crime statistics that unravelling any cause or solution, wide spread, is near impossible. I mean, this book actually says that the solution to the gun problem in the US is more guns. WTF?

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author was not joking around when he said this book was for dummies. There was almost nothing in this book that I did not already know; but that doesn't mean that is the case for the average reader. For the novice, this is a good introduction to Criminology, hence the third star. Also, the book is dated already. For my personal liking it was between 1.5 to 2 Stars.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is ok, nothing special. It’s based on the American criminal justice system. It’s an easy read covering numerous topics but nothing in too much detail. It’s an overview rather than an in depth read.

[Shellina Nefelibata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully detailed information throughout, great for those in or thinking about going into the criminal justice field. Loses a star because, at times, I definitely felt the author has some personal bias towards certain individuals which bled into the writing.

[Sasha Ruggiero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dry; but this is a thorough, no nonsense, just the facts approach to introducing the scope and breadth of criminology. Incredibly useful and enlightening. I recommend the audiobook to those who don’t like physically reading dry educational material.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title makes me cringe. Most people, including myself, are not dummies. I try to avoid these books like the plague for that reason alone. The book may have been cutting edge back in its day. Today, it is outdated and outmoded. The links did not work. They were outdated, too.

[Zaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written book, great overview for new comers. I have read its 2nd edition, which I couldn't find here..

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5stars*

[Mak · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s pretty alright.Learned a lot but I’ll forget 90% of them soon anyway, even then it’s worth reading, since the remaining 10% is still something .

[Darya Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was informative and detailed. It went above and beyond my expectations. It is a book I will re-read in the future.

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a criminology student, thay helped me a lot at the beginning 'cuz i was really cooked with criminology 😭

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book that explores the pragmatics, psychology and philosophy of the criminal justice system. Clear and mostly free of obvious bias--reading it makes clear the huge number of controversial points on the topic that are used to make political hay, so there's sometimes a sense of dodging or being even-handed at the expense of enthusiasm.

[Ken Rueben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the criminal justice system,,,and how it ACTUALLY works. This would be a perfect book for someone considering the criminal justice field as a career. I would highly recommend this book for community colleges as an intro textbook for LE majors and emergency management professionals!!!!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through but it was really interesting, and I learned a lot I didn't know before. I really like the for dummies series of books because they are easy to read, informative, and entertaining.

[BabyLunLun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find most things in here are pretty common knowledge. Types of Crimes, why people do crimes? , Impact of crime.

One new thing I learnt from this book is how the criminal justice system work. What does a prosecutor, defense attorney, jury do. Thats all

[Adam Bricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the dollar and cents part toward the middle of the book was on the dry side, but for the most part I thought the book was a great intro. to the criminal justice system.

[Loretta Matson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly deep. But if you just need an expanded definition of the subject, here ya go.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely educational!

[Rachel Bayles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and entertaining. A little bit about a lot of topics.

[Wanda Hargrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting read for those interested in crime and wondering how the system works.

[Robert Kiehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on Criminal Justice!