"Crime and Justice: A Guide to Criminology" by Marinella Marmo, Willem de Lint, and Darren Palmer is a comprehensive textbook that explores various aspects of criminology and criminal justice. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Criminological Theories: The book covers a wide range of criminological theories, including individual, social, and emerging explanations of crime. It provides a balanced approach to both critical and administrative criminological traditions.

2. Forms of Crimes: The text discusses different forms of crimes, such as street crime, state crime, and international crimes. It also examines who commits crimes and who are the victims of crimes.

3. Societal Response to Crime: The book delves into how society responds to crime, including the roles of courts, corrections, and innovative justice processes and crime prevention strategies.

4. Victims and Experts: Part Two of the book investigates the roles of victims, experts, lay people, and forensics in the criminal justice system. It also considers failures of justice and human rights.

5. Youth and Crime: Specific chapters focus on youth and crime, crime and the home, and white-collar and corporate crime, providing theoretical underpinnings for these topics.

Plot Summary

The book is structured to serve as a dual-semester text, making it suitable for students and educators. Part One introduces and canvasses criminological ideas and concepts effectively, while Part Two delves deeper into specific topics such as the roles of victims and experts, failures of justice, and human rights.

Critical Reception

Positive Reviews:

• Tamara (Goodreads Reviewer): "Very easy to read and understand. Text for my Bachelor of Criminology. Very interesting."
• Book Review: The book is praised for its thoughtful design, formulation, and execution, making it attractive to students and educators. It is also noted for being cost-effective to use over two semesters.

Negative Reviews:

• Bhawisha136 (Goodreads Reviewer): "Anyway, this book was a nightmare. I understood diddly squat and stuck to my study guides, lectures and seminars. Thanks, but no thanks."

Editions and Availability

The book has been published in multiple editions, including the 4th edition (2012), 6th edition (available as an eTextbook), and a seventh edition (mentioned but not detailed in the sources).

Conclusion

"Crime and Justice: A Guide to Criminology" by Marinella Marmo, Willem de Lint, and Darren Palmer is a comprehensive textbook that offers a balanced approach to criminology and criminal justice. It covers a wide range of topics, from criminological theories to societal responses to crime, making it a valuable resource for students and educators in the field. While it has received mixed reviews, its thoughtful design and execution make it an attractive choice for those studying criminology.