The Encyclopedia of Theoretical Criminology

Though criminology originated in the eighteenth century when social reformers began to question the use of punishment for crimes, and then evolved into scientific methods being applied to the study of crime in the nineteenth century, the past 20 years have seen the most significant change in the study of criminals and criminal activity. Until recently, criminology has been an area of study connected to sociology; however, it is becoming an independent discipline with more of an emphasis on the biological and psychological origins of crime.

The Encyclopedia of Theoretical Criminology is an up-to-date reference for key issues in present...