Demystifying Crime and Criminal Justice

by Robert M. Bohm, Jeffery T. Walker

Overview

From myths about crime and punishment to dangerous misunderstandings about the administration of justice, Demystifying Crime and Criminal Justice, Second Edition, exposes—and aims to correct—many of the American public's misconceptions about the criminal justice system.

Designed to stimulate critical thinking, this volume not only provides students with a deeper understanding of crime and criminal justice but also encourages them to question generally accepted beliefs more broadly.

FEATURES
* Revised and updated chapters contributed by a broad range of experts and scholars
* Incorporates the most up-to-date research
* Ten brand-new chapters covering misconceptions about juvenile offenders, the rehabilitation of sex offenders, the use of police force, and other controversial issues
* Rich pedagogy: review questions, discussion/critical thinking questions, relevant websites, and additional reading suggestions

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199843831
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/12/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Robert M. Bohm is Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida.

Jeffery T. Walker is Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Table of Contents

i* New to this edition/iAbout the EditorsAbout the ContributorsIntroduction, iRobert M. Bohm and Jeffery T. Walker/iSection 1: Crime* 1: The Myth of Accurate Crime Measurement, iClayton Mosher/i* 2: The Myth That "Criminals" Are Fundamentally Different from "Noncriminals," iWalter S. DeKeseredy/i* 3: The Myth of Rational Choice as an Explanation for Criminal Behavior: A Biosocial Critique, iJoseph L. Nedelec, Joseph A. Schwartz, and Kevin M. Beaver/i* 4: The Myth That Violent Juvenile Offenders Will Become Adult Criminals, iStacy C. Moak/i5: The Myth of Black Crime, iKatheryn Russell-Brown/i6: The Myth That Mental Illness Causes Crime, iBruce A. Arrigo and Heather Y. Bersot/i7: Myths About Drug Legalization or Decriminalization, iBarbara Sims and Michael Kenney/i8: The Myth About Drug Use and Violent Offending, iHenry H. Brownstein/i9: The Myth That White-Collar Crime Is Only About Financial Loss, iDavid O. Friedrichs/i* 10: The Myth That Current Gun Control Policies Reduce Crime, iSean Maddan/i* 11: The Myth That Sex Offenders Are Beyond Redemption, Jill S. Levenson* 12: The Myth That Stalking Is Not a Serious Crime, iStacy L. Mallicoat and Amy I. Cass/i13: Demystifying Terrorism: "Crazy Islamic Terrorists Who Hate Us Because We're Free?", iPaul Leighton/iSection 2: Law Enforcement14: The Myth That the Role of the Police Is to Fight Crime, iDavid E. Barlow and Melissa Hickman Barlow/i15: The Myth That Science Solves Crimes, iGary Cordner/i16: The Myths About Policewomen on Patrol, iKim Lersch/i* 17: The Myth That Police Use of Force Is Widespread, iWilliam R. King and Matthew C. Matusiak/i18: The Myths of Racial Profiling, iMichael Buerger/i* 19: The Myth That the Best Police Response to Domestic Violence Is to Arrest the Offender, iMartin D. Schwartz/iSection 3: Administration of Justice* 20: The Myth That the Exclusionary Rule Allows Many Criminals to Escape Justice, iCraig Hemmens/i21: The Myth That Punishment Reduces Crime, iRaymond Michalowski/i22: The Myth That Imprisonment Is the Most Severe Form of Punishment, iPeter B. Wood/i23: The Myth That the Death Penalty Is Administered Fairly, iBrandon Applegate/i24: The Myth of Closure and Capital Punishment, iJames R. Acker/iSection 4: Corrections25: The Myth of Prisons as Country Clubs, iBeth Pelz, Marilyn McShane, and Frank P. Williams III/i26: The Myth That Prisons Can Be Self-Supporting, iMary Parker/i27: Correctional Privatization and the Myth of Inherent Efficiency, iCurtis Blakely and John Ortiz Smykla/i28: The Myth That Correctional Rehabilitation Does Not Work, iFrancis T. Cullen and Paula Smith/i29: The Myth That Rehabilitation Is the Focus of Community Corrections, iMark Jones/iIndex

Editorial Reviews

"The students in this course really liked this book and actively engaged in discussion of the articles. I like this approach as it challenges criminal justice students to examine the beliefs they hold based on partial knowlege of the subject. I really like that each chapter follows the same format."—Janice Ahmad, University of Houston-Downtown

"This reader is the best supplement I have used or examined. The readings serve as a launching pad for numerous fascinating class discussions. I like the approach because it does a nice job of blending criminological theory, empirical evidence, and policy implications. ... This volume sparks student interest in critical issues in the criminal justice system by presenting competing perspectives on provocative topics. The authors teach students there are multiple ways to craft, implement and evaluate criminal justice policies. These are critical skills for students in the classroom and throughout their lives. No other book offers empirically-based evaluations of key issues in the criminal justice system in such a compelling and well-balanced manner."—Jenifer Hamil-Luker, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

"This reader contains many articles on issues I anticipate continuing to cover in the criminology course and does so in a very effective manner. I like the fact that the articles are to the point, follow the same pattern, and have a similar theme, which I believe will be attractive to students."—Stuart Traub, SUNY Cortland

From the Publisher