ABSTRACT
A brief look at the range of books available on criminological theory offers a clue as to the variety and complexity that can be associated with this search for explanation. This should be expected. After all, human beings can be fairly complex creatures! However, in making sense of criminological theory, it is useful to ask a number of questions. Soothill et al. (2002: 98-9) list these as being:
1. What is the theory trying to explain, and therefore what aspects of the crime-criminal problem does it ignore?
