Criminal Justice Theory is the first comprehensive volume on the theoretical foundations of criminal justice. While the field of criminology has produced many books of theory, the larger field of criminal justice has been undertheorized. Most basically, criminal justice theory explains the variations in official responses to behavior labeled criminal. It does this in part by examining variations in government social control systems that choose certain criminal sanctions over other forms of social control. Criminal justice theory also investigates the decisions about whether to use punishment as a control and whether to consider people blameworthy for harmful acts. The book is divided into four sections. The first set of essays defines theory generally, establishes the domain of criminal justice theory, and outlines the basic elements of theoretical thinking. The second section covers theory building. The third offers a critical assessment of theoretical knowledge. The final section features essays on theory testing and revision. Intended for advanced undergraduate students and graduate students in criminal justice, the reader includes student-friendly section introductions as well as discussion questions and exercises at the end of each chapter.