In this timely book of original essays, some of criminology's most respected scholars assess the policy implications of current theories of crime. The central question posed by the book is: Where does contemporary criminological theory lead open-minded policy-makers who are seeking to construct effective new strategies for dealing with crime?

Evaluating their own and others' work, the contributors present specific policy recommendations based on their analyses and provide possible answers to another question often posed in the classroom: How can theory help us solve the crime problem?