Theory Readings
Basic Reference Materials
Any combination of the following readings should give you an overview of the various
theoretical perspectives that you could/should expect to see on a comprehensive exam.
Akers, R. L. (2000). Criminological theories (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury
Publishing Company.
Brown, S. E., Esbensen, F., & Geis, G. (2007). Criminnology: Explaining crime and its
context (6th ed.). Newark, NJ: Mathew Bender & Company, Inc.
Cullen, F. T., & Agnew. R. (2003). Criminological theory past to present: Essential
readings (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company.
Jacoby, J. E. (2004). Classics of criminology (3rd ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press,
Inc.
Vold, G. B., Bernards, T. J., & Snipes, J. B. (2002). Theoretical criminology (5th ed.).
New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Walsh, A., & Ellis, L. (2007). Criminnology: An interdisciplinary approach. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Williams, F. P. & McShane M. D. (1998). Criminology theory (2nd ed.). Cincinnati, OH:
Anderson Publishing Co.