In this lively and engaging text, Paul Knepper discusses the difference social policy makes, or can make, in any response to crime. He also considers the contribution of criminology to the debates on major social policy areas, such as housing, education, employment, health and family. The book provides criminology students with an understanding of key social policy issues, and introduces criminological theory to social policy students. It is designed to cover the core components of courses in both of these areas.