The social construction of crime is often out of proportion to the threat posed. The media and advocacy groups shine a spotlight on some crimes and ignore others. Street crime is highlighted as putting everyone at risk of victimization, while the greater social harms from corporate malfeasance receive far less attention. Social arrangements dictate what is defined as crime and the punishments for those who engage in the proscribed behavior. Interest groups promote their agendas by appealing to public fears. Justifications often have no basis in fact, but the public accepts the exaggerations and blames the targeted offenders. The net-widening effect of more laws and more punishment catches those least able to defend themselves. This innovative alternative to traditional textbooks provides insightful observations of myths and trends in criminal justice. Fourteen chapters challenge misconceptions about specific crimes or aspects of the criminal justice system. Kappeler and Potter dissect popular images of crimes and criminals in a cogent, compelling, and engaging manner. They trace the social construction of each issue and identify the misleading statistics and fears that form the basis of myths—and the collateral damage of basing policies on mythical beliefs. The authors encourage skepticism about commonly accepted beliefs, offer readers a fresh perspective, and urge them to analyze important issues from novel vantage points.

An insightful look at the realities of crime & justice that challenges basic assumptions & misconceptions about specific crimes or parts of the criminal justice system.

Americans are fascinated with crime, criminals, and criminal justice. For all the public interest, however, relatively little is known about these topics that dominate newspaper headlines each and every day in the United States. This book provides readers with an accurate and up-to-date picture of crime and justice in the United States. Myths and Realities of Crime and Justice: What Every American Should Know addresses the major topics in this broad field and presents recent findings from criminologists and criminal justice practitioners in a reader-friendly manner. Combining up-to-date facts with an engaging narrative, this book will dispel many of the preconceived notions and distorted pictures about crime and justice that continue to perpetuate in the United States. This one-of-a-kind criminal justice book offers everything you need to know about crime, criminals, police. Book jacket.

Never HIGHLIGHT a Book Again! Includes all testable terms, concepts, persons, places, and events. Cram101 Just the FACTS101 studyguides gives all of the outlines, highlights, and quizzes for your textbook with optional online comprehensive practice tests. Only Cram101 is Textbook Specific. Accompanies: 9781577663584. This item is printed on demand.

This is a cogent, although admittedly not unbiased, analysis of misconceptions about crime and the criminal justice system. The main theme of the book is that the `myths' on which efforts to deal with this crime `anxiety' are based stem from two common beliefs--that there is an unprecedented crime wave, and that government should and can do something to recognize the source and purpose they serve, and also to know how and why Americans react to crime. Choice Wright offers a challenging new analysis of the misconceptions surrounding crime and an evaluation of the role of the criminal-justice system and the social context of crime. He notes that a comparatively high rate of violence has been characteristic of this nation from its earliest days and that crime waves and attempts at suppression have occurred at frequent intervals. He examines modern crime statistics and the distortions and confusion accompanying their use and looks at the effects of the pervasive fear of crime, demonstrating how law enforcement agencies and the press benefit from exaggerating its incidence and seriousness. The author makes a convincing case for the view that even with enlightened policies and higher levels of support, no criminal-justice system can, by itself, effect a significant reduction in crime. Since most crime is socially determined, he argues, we need to look at the conditions and attitudes within our society that create an atmosphere congenial to crime.