Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice (ePub)

This innovative alternative to traditional textbooks provides insightful observations of myths and trends in criminal justice. The authors dissect popular images of crimes and criminals in a cogent, compelling, and engaging manner. They confront the misleading statistics and fears that form the basis of myths-and the collateral damage of basing policies on mythical beliefs. The text encourages skepticism about commonly accepted beliefs and provides the tools necessary for critical thinking about complex problems. The media and interest groups shine a spotlight on some crimes and ignore others. Social arrangements dictate what is defined as crime and the punishments for those who violate the arrangements. Interest groups promote their agendas by appealing to public fears and creating social facts such as rising crime rates, which have no basis other than the public's belief in them. The social construction of crime is often out of proportion to the threat actually posed. The net-widening effect of more laws and more punishment catches those least able to defend themselves. Fifteen chapters challenge misconceptions about specific crimes or aspects of the criminal justice system. The authors trace the social construction of each issue and outline some of the realities of crime and justice. The text offers students a fresh perspective and encourages them to understand the system by stepping outside the usual framework and employing novel vantage points.