The 10 Best Criminology Textbooks

video play icon 10 Best Criminology Textbooks

This wiki has been updated 14 times since it was first published in February of 2019. Anyone considering a career in law enforcement needs a solid grounding in criminology, and these textbooks can give you just that. They take a long, hard look at the nature of criminal activity, exploring its causes, how it impacts society, and possible ways to manage it. These selections are filled with the most modern theories and current data, which they then present in an engaging manner. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Criminology: 11th Edition

2. Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies

3. Criminology: Theory, Research, and Policy

Editor's Notes

March 12, 2019:

We included a wide array of books on this list, so that users could have choices that represent the full spectrum of the field. For example, Research Methods in Crime, Justice, and Social Problems is perfect for the student hoping to learn about data collection and analysis, while tomes like Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies provide more of a wide-ranging view of the topic. Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction goes even deeper, as it examines the impact policies have on real-life events, helping users to grasp the cause-and-effect relationship between theoretical exercises and the real world. Students should expect to encounter all three options (or books like them) during their studies.

4. Introduction to Criminology: Theories, Methods, and Criminal Behavior

5. Research Methods in Crime, Justice, and Social Problems

6. Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction

7. Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach

8. Introduction to Criminology: Why Do They Do It?

9. Criminology: The Core

10. Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice


Quincy Miller
Last updated by Quincy Miller

After getting his bachelor’s from the University of Texas, Quincy Miller moved out to Los Angeles, where he soon found work as a copywriter and researcher, specializing in health and wellness topics for a major online media brand. Quincy is also knowledgeable about home improvement, as he’s had extensive experience with everything from insulation to power tools to emergency room trips, sometimes in that order. Sharing a home with three dogs and a couple of cats has forced Quincy to learn as much as he can about pet supplies, animal nutrition and, most importantly, the best ways to tackle the mountains of fur that accumulate in every corner of your home.


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