This course introduces a range of contemporary theories of crime ranging from the long standing rational choice based theories to the most recent bio-genetic based theories.

Particular attention will be paid to Gottfredson and Hirschi's General Theory of crime, Criminal Career Paradigm, and Developmental /Life-course criminology.

Emphasis will be placed on identifying the criminal justice and social policy implications inherent in a given criminological theory or perspective. There will be an emphasis related to the theories and research policy implications regarding the increasing use of controversial personality disorder constructs such as psychopathy in criminal justice decision-making generally and for adolescents, in particular.

After successful completion of this course students will:

• Have a theoretical understanding of the causes and correlates of crime
• Understand the role between theory, prevention, and policy
• Understand the relationship between macro, meso, and micro level factors on theory and policy development

Be able to critically analyze contemporary criminal justice policy in the context of the most current theoretical and empirical understanding of the causes and correlates of crime.

Lectures and seminars. Selfstudy. Teaching will be concentrated during one short periode.

All students are expected to prepare in advance for class and to participate in class discussions.

2 hours school exam

A - E for passed, F for failed.

Exam language:

• Question paper: English
• Answer paper: English

Support materials allowed during school exam:

See section 3-5 of the Supplementary Regulations for Studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen.

Special regulations about dictionaries:

• According to the Regulations for Studies, one dictionary is permitted support material during the examination. Bilingual dictionaries containing for example both Norwegian-English and English-Norwegian are considered as one dictionary.
• Bilingual dictionaries to/from the same two languages - for example Norwegian-English/English-Norwegian - in two different volumes are also considered as one dictionary (irrespective of publisher or edition).
• Dictionaries as described above cannot be combined with any other types of dictionaries.
• Any kind of combination which makes up more than two physical volumes is forbidden.
• In case a student has a special need for any other combination than the above mentioned, such combination has to be clarified with/approved by the course coordinator minimum two weeks before the exam. Students who have not been granted permission to have a special combination minimum two weeks before the exam will be subject to the usual regulations (Section 3-5) about examination support materials.