476 pages, $65.95 list
1-4786-0765-3
978-1-4786-0765-6
© 2016
paperback
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Crime and Criminal Justice in American Society
Second Edition
Today’s headlines vividly illustrate the importance of understanding aspects of the criminal justice system too often ignored. While the second edition of Crime and Criminal Justice in American Society includes the most recent statistics on the police, courts, and corrections, its provocative, current examples also spur critical thinking about justice in the United States.
The authors offer an alternative interpretation of criminal justice rarely presented in traditional textbooks or by the media. They encourage readers to examine their beliefs about crime, punishment, and the law. Discussions in the chapters about how African Americans, Hispanics, whites, women, juveniles, the rich, and the poor experience crime and the criminal justice system contribute context for understanding different viewpoints. The poor and minorities are the most likely to be caught in the net of criminal justice—but inequities have consequences for everyone. Reflection on various perspectives provides helpful input for assessing attitudes and for becoming actively involved with issues that have significant consequences.
Eighteen thoroughly revised chapters present historical backgrounds, theories, and emerging issues. New to the second edition is a chapter on veterans involved in the criminal justice system. Affordable, succinct, and engaging, this textbook presents the key concepts of the criminal justice system at less than half the cost of many competing textbooks.
The authors offer an alternative interpretation of criminal justice rarely presented in traditional textbooks or by the media. They encourage readers to examine their beliefs about crime, punishment, and the law. Discussions in the chapters about how African Americans, Hispanics, whites, women, juveniles, the rich, and the poor experience crime and the criminal justice system contribute context for understanding different viewpoints. The poor and minorities are the most likely to be caught in the net of criminal justice—but inequities have consequences for everyone. Reflection on various perspectives provides helpful input for assessing attitudes and for becoming actively involved with issues that have significant consequences.
Eighteen thoroughly revised chapters present historical backgrounds, theories, and emerging issues. New to the second edition is a chapter on veterans involved in the criminal justice system. Affordable, succinct, and engaging, this textbook presents the key concepts of the criminal justice system at less than half the cost of many competing textbooks.
Reactions
“Excellent. I adopted it. It goes beyond the nuts and bolts of the criminal justice system and approaches crime and our responses to it from a valuable critical perspective.” — Alan S. Bruce, Quinnipiac University
1. An Overview of the Criminal Justice System
The Constitutional Basis of the Criminal Justice System / Models of the Criminal Justice System / Social Inequality and Class Structure in the United States / The Crime Control Industry / Summary
2. The Problem of Crime in American Society
The Meaning of Crime / Classifications of Crime / Types of Crimes / Measuring Crime / The Extent of Crime / The Other Side of the Crime Picture: Corporate and State Crime / Summary
3. Perspectives on Criminal Justice and Law
A Critical Perspective on Criminal Justice / Perspectives on Criminal Law / The Nature of Criminal Law / Types of Law / Essential Elements of Crime / Criminal Defenses / Summary
4. Theories of Crime
Criminological Theory / The Classical School / Rational Choice Theory / The Positivist School / Biological Theories / Psychological Theories / Sociological Theories / Summary
5. A Historical Overview of American Policing
Early Police Systems / A Police Institution Emerges in England / American Policing Emerges / Summary
6. U.S. Law Enforcement in the Twenty-First Century
Promoting Fear and Selling the Illusion of Protection / The Militarization of Policing / Law Enforcement: Structure, Composition, and Personnel / Summary
7. Police Functions and Problems
Enforcing the Law or Maintaining Order? / The Police Subculture / Police Corruption / Police Abuse of Power / The Police and the War on Drugs / The Police and the War on Gangs / Can the Police Prevent Crime? / Policing and Mental Illness / Community Policing / Technology and Policing / Summary
8. The Criminal Courts: The System and Participants
Social Justice / A Brief History / An Overview of the Criminal Court System / Participants in the Court System / Changing and Reforming the Court System / Summary
9. Criminal Court Procedures
Prosecutorial Discretion / Pretrial Court Processes / Plea Bargaining: Maintaining Bureaucratic Efficiency / The Criminal Trial / Alternative Case Processing and New Criminal Court Procedures / Case Disposition and Sentencing in Problem-Solving Courts / Summary
10. Sentencing
Justifications for Punishment / The Sentencing Process / The Impact of the War on Drugs / Sentencing for the Convicted / Capital Punishment: Legalized Homicide / Summary
11. Jails: Temporary Housing for the Poor
Jails in Context / Conditions in Jails / Jail Populations / The Functions of Jails: Managing the "Rabble" Class / Who Is the Jail Inmate? The Marion County Jail in Salem, Oregon / Summary
12. The Modern Prison System
Early American Prisons, 1790–1830 / The Pennsylvania and Auburn Systems of Penal Discipline, 1830–1870 / Reformatories, 1870–1900 / The "Big House," 1900–1946 / The "Correctional Institution," 1946–1980 / Warehousing, 1980 into the Twenty-First Century / The New American Apartheid / Summary
13. Doing Time in American Prisons
The Prison World / The Daily Routine / Prison Violence / Prisoners' Rights / Summary
14. Getting Out of Prison: Problems with Reentry and Parole
Inmate Views of the "Outside" / Getting Out of Prison on Parole / The Increase of Parole Failures: Why? / Reentry / Barriers to Parole Success: Some "Collateral Consequences" of Mass Incarceration / Some Model Programs / Summary
15. The Juvenile Justice System
A Brief History of the Juvenile Justice System / Juvenile Laws / Juvenile Court: The Structure /Influences on Decisions in the Juvenile Justice System / Entering the Juvenile Justice System / Juvenile Court Processing / The Disposition of Captivity / Juveniles as Victims / Kids for Cash / Summary
16. Women and the Criminal Justice System
Women and the Law: A Historical Overview / Women and Crime / Incarceration of Women / Women in Prison / Coping with Imprisonment / Young Women and the Juvenile Justice System / Summary
17. Veterans in the Criminal Justice System
Introduction / War—What Is It? / Reintegration Back Into the Civilian Culture / Research on Veteran Defendants / Veterans Treatment Courts / Summary
18. Making Changes: Reforming Criminal Justice and Seeking Social Justice
Where We Are / We Need a New Paradigm / Addressing the Problem of Social Inequality / Specific Areas for Change / Ending the "War on Drugs" / Alternative Approaches to Achieving Justice / Some Concluding Thoughts
The Constitutional Basis of the Criminal Justice System / Models of the Criminal Justice System / Social Inequality and Class Structure in the United States / The Crime Control Industry / Summary
2. The Problem of Crime in American Society
The Meaning of Crime / Classifications of Crime / Types of Crimes / Measuring Crime / The Extent of Crime / The Other Side of the Crime Picture: Corporate and State Crime / Summary
3. Perspectives on Criminal Justice and Law
A Critical Perspective on Criminal Justice / Perspectives on Criminal Law / The Nature of Criminal Law / Types of Law / Essential Elements of Crime / Criminal Defenses / Summary
4. Theories of Crime
Criminological Theory / The Classical School / Rational Choice Theory / The Positivist School / Biological Theories / Psychological Theories / Sociological Theories / Summary
5. A Historical Overview of American Policing
Early Police Systems / A Police Institution Emerges in England / American Policing Emerges / Summary
6. U.S. Law Enforcement in the Twenty-First Century
Promoting Fear and Selling the Illusion of Protection / The Militarization of Policing / Law Enforcement: Structure, Composition, and Personnel / Summary
7. Police Functions and Problems
Enforcing the Law or Maintaining Order? / The Police Subculture / Police Corruption / Police Abuse of Power / The Police and the War on Drugs / The Police and the War on Gangs / Can the Police Prevent Crime? / Policing and Mental Illness / Community Policing / Technology and Policing / Summary
8. The Criminal Courts: The System and Participants
Social Justice / A Brief History / An Overview of the Criminal Court System / Participants in the Court System / Changing and Reforming the Court System / Summary
9. Criminal Court Procedures
Prosecutorial Discretion / Pretrial Court Processes / Plea Bargaining: Maintaining Bureaucratic Efficiency / The Criminal Trial / Alternative Case Processing and New Criminal Court Procedures / Case Disposition and Sentencing in Problem-Solving Courts / Summary
10. Sentencing
Justifications for Punishment / The Sentencing Process / The Impact of the War on Drugs / Sentencing for the Convicted / Capital Punishment: Legalized Homicide / Summary
11. Jails: Temporary Housing for the Poor
Jails in Context / Conditions in Jails / Jail Populations / The Functions of Jails: Managing the "Rabble" Class / Who Is the Jail Inmate? The Marion County Jail in Salem, Oregon / Summary
12. The Modern Prison System
Early American Prisons, 1790–1830 / The Pennsylvania and Auburn Systems of Penal Discipline, 1830–1870 / Reformatories, 1870–1900 / The "Big House," 1900–1946 / The "Correctional Institution," 1946–1980 / Warehousing, 1980 into the Twenty-First Century / The New American Apartheid / Summary
13. Doing Time in American Prisons
The Prison World / The Daily Routine / Prison Violence / Prisoners' Rights / Summary
14. Getting Out of Prison: Problems with Reentry and Parole
Inmate Views of the "Outside" / Getting Out of Prison on Parole / The Increase of Parole Failures: Why? / Reentry / Barriers to Parole Success: Some "Collateral Consequences" of Mass Incarceration / Some Model Programs / Summary
15. The Juvenile Justice System
A Brief History of the Juvenile Justice System / Juvenile Laws / Juvenile Court: The Structure /Influences on Decisions in the Juvenile Justice System / Entering the Juvenile Justice System / Juvenile Court Processing / The Disposition of Captivity / Juveniles as Victims / Kids for Cash / Summary
16. Women and the Criminal Justice System
Women and the Law: A Historical Overview / Women and Crime / Incarceration of Women / Women in Prison / Coping with Imprisonment / Young Women and the Juvenile Justice System / Summary
17. Veterans in the Criminal Justice System
Introduction / War—What Is It? / Reintegration Back Into the Civilian Culture / Research on Veteran Defendants / Veterans Treatment Courts / Summary
18. Making Changes: Reforming Criminal Justice and Seeking Social Justice
Where We Are / We Need a New Paradigm / Addressing the Problem of Social Inequality / Specific Areas for Change / Ending the "War on Drugs" / Alternative Approaches to Achieving Justice / Some Concluding Thoughts