Essentials of Criminology: A Student-Oriented Approach to Teaching Crime Theory is an accessible, relevant overview of criminological theories and their use in understanding, explaining, and responding to crime. The text provides foundational knowledge, engages students through real-life examples and scenarios, and focuses on select theories, exploring them in depth.

The principal types of theory explored throughout the text include neo-classical theories (crime as a choice), structure theories (crime as a result of social environment, values, stressors, and subculture), process theories (crime as the result of individual learning, associations, and social/self-control), conflict theories (crime as a result of the unequal distribution of power), and developmental theories (crime as a career). The relationship between drugs and crime in society is also explored.

The second edition of the text features an expansion of core criminal justice concepts, updated statistical data, and additional examples, activities, and assignments, which tackle relevant social issues including police-community relations, immigration policy, sexual misconduct, mass shootings, and gun control.

The Essentials of Criminology is written for one-semester courses in criminology, criminal justice, and applied crime theory, and designed so that all the material in the text can be adequately and thoughtfully covered.