IN THE INITIAL CHAPTERS OF THIS TEXT THE AUTHOR PRESENTS A BRIEF HISTORY OF CRIMINOLOGY, AND DISCUSSES THE MEANING OF CRIME, FOCUSING ON THE NATURE OF LAW AND THE ROLE OF LAW IN SOCIETY. THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER EXAMINES CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF CRIME, INCLUDING THE ACCURACY OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS, AND THE PREMISES OF CAUSAL EXPLANATION. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL LOOKS AT CRIME IN AMERICA AND THE FUTURE OF CRIME. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT 'OUR RESPONSE TO CRIME REFLECTS THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF OUR SOCIETY, AND IMPORTANT ISSUES OF ETHICS AND POLITICS ARE EVIDENT BY OUR ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT BY CRIMINAL LAW'.