What is crime? How do we measure the extent of crime? Is the image of crime we see in the media accurate? Why do some people engage in criminal activities while others do not? Why do crime rates differ between cities, regions, and countries, as well as over time? What is the most effective way to lower the incidence of crime? What is justice? Does it always have to involve punishment? In this course we will address such questions from a sociological perspective. We will focus on the social context of crime and criminals, especially the causes, consequences, and solutions to behavior that has been labeled as “criminal.”