Myths and realities of crime and justice : what every American should know / Steven E. Barkan, George J. Bryjak.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barkan, Steven E., 1951-

Contributor:

Bryjak, George J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Criminal justice, Administration of--United States.

Criminal justice, Administration of.

United States.

Crime--United States.

Crime.

Criminal law--United States.

Criminal law.

Physical Description:

xi, 367 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Burlington, MA : Jones & Bartlett Learning, [2014]

Summary:

For all their interest in crime, most Americans know very little about the reality of crime and the criminal justice system in the United States-and most of what Americans do know is a loose collection of accumulated truths, half-truths, and outright fallacies. Myths and Realities of Crime and Justice: What Every American Should Know, Second Edition provides a concise but thorough overview of criminal behavior, crime, and the criminal justice system in the United States. Using up-to-date social science research to debunk many of the beliefs Americans hold about crime, the book examines key topics such as serial killers and mass murders, gun violence, criminal victimization, identity theft, policing and police corruption, plea bargaining, jury nullification, wrongful convictions, the death penalty, and the "CSI Effect." The fully revised and updated Second Edition of this popular text includes the most recent crime and criminal justice data, and covers several recent high-profile crimes, including the Newtown shooting, the Jerry Sandusky case, and the Tray von Martin case. It also includes new sections on recent trends in crime rates, street gangs, and hate crimes. Ideally suited for students in criminal justice programs as well as professionals who work within or in tandem with the criminal justice system, Myths and Realities of Crime and Justice: What Every American Should Know, Second Edition is a thorough, engaging, and highly relevant portrait of crime and justice in America. Key Features of the Second Edition Include: Fully updated crime statistics and criminal justice data, Coverage of recent high-profile crimes, New sections on hot issues including solitary confinement, hate crimes, and street gangs Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 What No One Is Telling You About Crime and Justice 1

Crime, Criminals, and Why We All Need to Know About Them 2

Getting Tough? The U.S. Criminal Justice System in Crisis 3

Who We Are and Why We Wrote This Book 4

References 5

Chapter 2 The Crime Problem 7

Fear and Loathing; Don't Believe Everything You See in the Newspapers or on Television 8

If You Build It, They Will Come (and Then Leave): The War on Crime and the Growth of Prisons 12

Dirty Secrets of Criminal Justice 15

Key Terms 19

Suggested Readings 19

References 20

Chapter 3 How Much Crime Is There and Who Commits It? 23

How Crimes Are Counted 24

Who Commits Crime? 29

Key Terms 37

Suggested Readings 37

References 37

Chapter 4 Robbers, Rapists, and Serial Killers: Violent Crime in America 41

Homicide 42

Serial Killers 45

Mass Murder 50

Rape: A Crime of Power, Not Sex 57

Robbery 62

Street Gangs 67

Guns and Violent Crime 68

The Churches and Sexual Abuse 70

Hate Crimes 76

Key Terms 77

Suggested Readings 77

References 77

Chapter 5 Hookers, Dopers, and Corporate Crooks: Economic, Exploitive, and Consensual Crime 83

Burglary 84

Motor Vehicle Theft 86

Corporate Crime 89

Identity Theft 92

Illegal Drug Use 97

Prostitution 113

Key Terms 120

Suggested Readings 121

References 121

Chapter 6 Victims and Victimization: Will You Be Next? 129

Victim Characteristics 130

The Cost and Consequences of Victimization 154

Victims and Offenders 135

The Victims' Movement 145

Crime Victims' Rights Act of 2004 151

Key Terms 153

Suggested Readings 154

References 154

Chapter 7 Crime and Criminal Law: Order, Liberty, and Justice for All? 159

Order Versus Liberty in American Democracy 159

Types of Crime: Felonies and Misdemeanors 160

When Is an Act a Crime and When Is It Not a Crime? The Elements of Criminal Behavior 160

When Is a Defendant Not Responsible for Committing a Crime? Legal Defenses to Criminal Charges 162

The Rights of Suspects and Defendants: Controversy and the U.S. Constitution 166

Key Terms 175

Suggested Readings 176

References 176

Chapter 8 Why They Break the Law 179

Rational Choice and Deterrence 180

Biological and Psychological Explanations 182

Sociological Explanations 185

Theory and Policy, or How to Reduce Crime and How Not to Reduce It 193

Key Terms 195

Suggested Readings 195

References 196

Chapter 9 Taking It to the Streets: Cops on the Job 199

The Organization of Law Enforcement 200

Police: White, Black, Hispanic, Male, Female, Straight, and Gay 201

The Police and Crime Rates 204

Doing Police Work 205

Police Discretion 211

The Police and Profiling 212

Militarizing the Police 214

Officers Killed in the Line of Duty 216

Police Deviance: When the Good Guys Are Bad Guys 217

Sexual Predators m Blue 220

Police and the Use of Force 222

Policing the Polite 229

Key Terms 231

Suggested Readings 231

References 232

Chapter 10 Pretrial Procedures and Plea Bargaining: From Arrest to "Let's Make a Deal" 239

Pretrial Procedures 240

The Courtroom as a Clubhouse 248

Plea Bargaining 249

Key Terms 258

Suggested Readings 259

References 259

Chapter 11 Criminal Trials and Courtroom Issues: Convicting the Innocent, Exonerating the Guilty 263

The Criminal Trial 264

Jury Nullification 276

Wrongful Convictions: Factually Innocent but Legally Guilty 279

Fingerprints: Proof Positive? 290"Is That All the Evidence You Have?" The CSI Effect 291

Key Terms 293

Suggested Readings 293

References 294

Chapter 12 Prisons and Jails: Punishment at Any Cost? 299

Such An Ordeal: Today's Corrections System 300

Life Behind Bars: Myth Versus Reality 304

Women in Prison: Sexism in Captivity 309

The Death Penalty Debate 312

Key Terms 314

Suggested Readings 315

References 315

Chapter 13 Community Corrections and Juvenile Justice 319

Probation and Parole 319

Juvenile Justice: Youths at Risk? 325

Key Terms 331

Suggested Readings 331

References 331

Chapter 14 Conclusion: What Every American Should Know 335

What Do We Know About Crime? 335

What Should We Do About Crime? 338

How Can We Help Crime Victims? 338

How Can We Improve the Justice System? 339

Keeping Your Family Safe 340

Keeping Your Family Off the Police Blotter 341.

Notes:

Revised edition of the author's Myths and realities of crime and justice published in 2009.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781449691080

1449691080

OCLC:

830646674