ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an examination of the nature of crime, and introduces some influential biological, psychological and sociological theories that have been developed to explain why people commit crime. As well as theorising about the nature of crime and its causes, criminologists and criminal justice practitioners are also concerned with the operation of a fair and just criminal justice system; this is the subject of the second part of the chapter. An overview of the function and purpose of key agencies within the criminal justice system is provided, and the reader is introduced to the role of the police within that wider system. The criminal justice system’s treatment of young offenders and victims of crime is also briefly explored. The chapter concludes with a reflection on contemporary developments in criminal justice and outlines future challenges to the delivery of criminal justice across England and Wales.
