Criminology

I became aware of Professor Newburn’s new work on both theoretical and applied criminology from BTEC. This book is well suited for the beginner, the professional training to become involved in any or all aspects of the criminal justice process, and the interested learner whose career may overlap with the role of the criminologist in the public services.

When I started teaching Criminology for the law undergraduate some 20 years ago, the basis of theoretical criminology had remained relatively static although some exciting new studies had appeared linking research from the Chicago School and anomie with the overtly political New Criminology and expanding feminist/gender issues. Mixing these strands of radical and realist theories with the complete confusion of current applied criminology measures and the failures of the legal framework of modern law enforcement is a monumental modern task and Newburn excels with his objective in this modern work presented with thought and just the right amount of detail.

The use of additional website support for both learners and tutors is another plus factor.  I was unsure of how well the illustrations would fit in here as I have written a number of different versions of the basic content of this book for other organisations at both GCE and undergraduate level and found merging the dry written word with charts, tables and photographs actually does help when presenting the subject to learners where I use differentiation practice

My most recent teaching assignment required the teaching of part of this subject for BTEC Public Services courses and from reflective practice, I do recommend this book as a great primer for those who need a framework of criminology for their public service careers. It blends the wholly academic elements with the vocational aspects of BTEC highly effectively and gets the balance right for the range of learners we have.

The contents cover 36 headings in six parts.  Like the views of my colleagues teaching this subject, there are always going to be problems with keeping this work up to date for Parts 4, 5 and 6. Reforming criminal justice, its current critical issues, and researching criminology which I am currently reading for post graduate studies is tackled well, and I would envisage web involvement being much more important as this work goes into another edition.

Clearly, Newburn’s broad approach is to be welcomed because it is accessible and authoritative being lively at all times with an intellectual sparkle which gives the reader encouragement to explore controversial issues: all the more controversial as ‘law’n’order’ remains at the top of the political agenda with the economy, presumably remaining so for some time to come.

Tim Newburn’s experience shines through brilliantly here, and I know my colleagues who teach this subject welcome his approach as being at the top of the tree for either BTEC or the more formal academic qualifications.

It is the best book of its type for us at the moment, linking the more established teaching with innovation at a time of turbulence in the Home Office- extracts are great for PowerPoint, too, even though PPPs are not everybody’s ideal for teaching, but it works with Newburn’s approach. So thank you, Willan Publishing, for this contribution to the teaching of criminology today.

PHILLIP TAYLOR MBE LL.B (Hons) PGCE Barrister-at-Law.

Richmond Green Chambers