To appreciate Conklin’s uniqueness, compare New Perspectives in Criminology with other classics:

The Role of the Victim: Modern criminology places a higher emphasis on victimology. Conklin’s perspectives help integrate the experience of the victim into the broader study of the criminal act.

A defining feature of the "new perspectives" is the focus on labeling. Conklin explores how the criminal justice system can inadvertently create career criminals by stigmatizing individuals.

Unlike many American-centric textbooks, New Perspectives includes case studies from Japan, Scandinavia, and developing nations. Conklin asks why some societies have lower violent crime rates despite similar economic conditions, pointing toward cultural and welfare-state variables.

Economic Crime: His work often touches upon the motivations behind theft and white-collar crime, highlighting how societal pressure to achieve financial success can drive individuals toward illegal means.

The new perspectives in criminology presented in Conklin's book have significant implications for policy and practice. By highlighting the complexity of crime and delinquency, these perspectives challenge policymakers and practitioners to develop more nuanced and effective responses to crime. For instance, critical criminology's emphasis on social inequality suggests that responses to crime should prioritize addressing social and economic inequality. Similarly, peacemaking criminology's emphasis on healing and restorative justice suggests that responses to crime should prioritize rehabilitation and reintegration.