The article deals with the prospects for general theories of crime. It begins with a review of the empirical conditions which have proved propitious for general theory in other branches of science and concludes that no similarly propitious conditions for general theory exist in criminology. It then attempts to show that the schematic nature of existing criminological theories means that current attempts at theoretical integration in criminology are unlikely to deliver any real gains in explanatory power or any secure foundation for crime prevention policy. The discussion concludes by urging theorists to pursue detailed explanations for specific patterns of offending rather than general theories of crime.
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