CJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice: Criminological Theories

Rational Choice Theory:

Cornish, D.B., & Clarke, R.V. (1987). Understanding crime displacement: An application of rational choice theory. Criminology, 25(4), 933-947.

Routine Activity Theory:

Cohen, L.E., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44, 588-608.

Felson, M. (2002). Crime and everyday life: Insight and implications for society (3rd ed.). Sage. (<-- The library does not own a copy of this, please use ILL to request one)

Social Disorganization Theory:

Shaw, C.R., & McKay, H.D. (1942). Juvenile delinquency and urban areas. University of Chicago Press.

Code of the Street:

Anderson, E. (2000). Code of the street: Decency, violence, and the moral life of the inner city. W. W. Norton. 

Deterrence:

Marchese di Beccaria, C. (1819). An essay on crimes and punishments (2nd ed.). Philip H. Nicklin.

Deviant Subculture Theory:

Cohen, A.K. (1955). Delinquent boys: The culture of the gang. Free Press.

General Strain Theory:

Agnew, R. (1985). A revised strain theory of delinquency. Social Forces, 64(1),151-167.

Strain Theory:

Merton, R.K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672-682.

Social Learning Theory:

Akers, R.L. (1973). Deviant behavior: A social learning approach. Wadsworth.

Differential Association Theory:

Sutherland, E.H., Cressey, D.R., Luckenbill, D.F. (1992). Principles of criminology (11th ed.). General Hall.

Social Bond Theory:

Hirschi, T. (2002). Causes of delinquency. Transaction Publishers.

Age-Graded Theory of Informal social Control (AGTISC) aka Life Course:

Sampson, R.J., & Laub, J.H. (1996). Socioeconomic achievement in the life course of disadvantaged men: Military service as a turning point, Circa 1940-1965. American Sociological Review, 61(3), 347-367.

General Theory of Crime aka Low Self Control (LSC):

Gottfredson, Michael R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford University Press.

Labeling Theory:

Lemert, E. M. (1951). Social pathology: A systematic approach to the theory of sociopathic behavior. McGraw-Hill. (<-- Use ILL to request a copy)

Lemert, E. M. (1967). Human deviance, social problems, and social control. Prentice Hall. (<-- Use ILL to request a copy)

Lemert, E.M. (1997). The trouble with evil: Social control at the edge of morality. State University of New York Press.