The Psychology of Criminal Conduct

It is a real pleasure to welcome a new and fully updated edition of the leading textbook on psychologically informed approaches to understanding and reducing criminal behaviour. For over twenty years its successive editions have explained the theory and evidence behind the Risk-Need-Responsivity model of offender rehabilitation, which has influenced policy and practice in many countries throughout the world and continues to be the most productive source of evidence-based methods. Its influence and importance can hardly be overstated. This latest edition will be an invaluable resource not only for students of criminology and criminal justice but also for practitioners in probation and prisons, and for the managers and leaders of correctional services who have a responsibility, both to the general public and to offenders themselves, to promote and use the most effective practices. Perhaps even some politicians might take a look at this book - they would certainly benefit.



- Peter Raynor, Research Professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Swansea University, Wales, UK

This book should be essential reading for criminologists and psychologists and anyone who is interested in the assessment, prevention, and treatment of offending. Its reviews of key biological, family, school, neighborhood, and other predictors of crime, and the practical application of this knowledge in the Risk-Need-Responsivity model of effective correctional treatment, are very well-researched, extremely informative, and highly readable.

- David P. Farrington, Emeritus Professor of Psychological Criminology, Cambridge University, UK

When I read the first edition of The Psychology of Criminal Conduct in 1994 I thought it was the best book on its topic. The book provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary overview on up-to-date research and theory on the origins, prediction, prevention and treatment of offending behavior. The book shows how to explain, predict and treat sexual, violent, acquisitive and other offending and puts the findings in a convincing theoretical and practice-oriented framework. It is essential reading not only for students in the fields of criminology, psychology and law, forensic psychology and psychiatry, sociology, social work and other crime-related disciplines, but also for researchers, practitioners and policy makers in these areas.

-Friedrich Lösel, Professor and director emeritus of the Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University (UK) and Institute of Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany

Words like 'classic' and 'seminal' are all too frequently used to describe scholarly work. The fact is that The Psychology of Criminal Conduct by Bonta and Andrews is a seminal work that has become a classic since it was first published 22 years ago. The sixth edition continues the tradition by including an abundance of up-to-date research studies that address current issues. Bonta has not rested on his laurels but has produced a current work that will continue to set the standard in the field of forensic and correctional psychology.

-James R. P. Ogloff, Director, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University and Forensicare, Melbourne, Australia