The Origins of Criminological Theory

This book offers a new sort of theory textbook that looks back to trace the development of our understanding of crime and deviance throughout the ages, from Ancient Greece right through to the dawn of the rehabilitation ideal to inform readers of the significant role the past has played in our contemporary theories of crime.

The Origins of Criminological Theory offers a new sort of theory textbook, both in content and concept. Whereas other texts offer a mainly twentieth century account of criminological theory, this book looks further back, tracing the development of our understanding of crime and deviance throughout the ages, from Ancient Greece right through to the dawn of the rehabilitation ideal. The central objective of this book is to inform readers of the significant role the past has played in our contemporary theories of crime. Core content includes:

• Justice in Ancient Greece
• The Dark Ages and innocence
• The Age of Enlightenment and human nature
• The Classical School and Utilitarianism
• The medicalization of crime
• Biological positivism

• The birth of rehabilitation In addition to providing a unique approach, the book also has unique authorship. Each chapter is written by an incarcerated author housed at a men's medium and maximum-security prison in the US. The writers are supported by one or more co-authors: university students who carry out the research for each chapter. This book therefore offers a new way of thinking about theory and makes a significant contribution to convict criminology. It will be of interest to those taking courses in criminological theory, and to programmes such as Inside Out in the US, and the Prison-University Partnerships Network in the UK.

  Autorentext

Omi Hodwitz is Assistant Professor in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice at the University of Idaho, USA.

Inhalt

1. Introduction 2. Justice in Ancient Greece and Rome 3. The Dark Ages and innocence 4. The Age of Enlightenment and human nature 5. The Classical School and utilitarianism 6. The criminalization of madness 7. Biology and the Scientific Revolution 8. The birth of rehabilitation 9. The rise of restoration 10. Bringing the past into the present