The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice, Fifth Edition

By Victor E. Kappeler and Gary W. Potter

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1478602600
• ISBN13: 9781478602606
• Release Date: July 2017
• Publisher: Waveland Press, Inc.
• Length: 530 Pages
• Weight: 1.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Great discussion and thought generator!

I use this book in a general education course "Crime and Justice". It gets the students going and keeps them interested. For those of you who say it is one-sided, challenge yourself or your students to present evidence to the contrary. One of the best I have used in a long time!

Lightning Speed Service

The book arrived pretty quick and was pretty much brand new for the purchased price... Thank you. Great Job!!!

True to its Title!

If the measure of a good book is ability to stimulate thought then this is a good book! The authors systematically examine a range of common beliefs held about the criminal justice system and illustrate these are either wrong, or at least should be closely scrutinized. They undoubtedly adopt a critical perspective in their analysis, which is very refreshing and a valuable counter to media sensationalism over mythical "superpredators" and other common images. The authors' claims are based on freely available evidence rather than haphazard appeals to "common sense" and as such is a valuable resource to stimulate debate on crime issues.

This is the Best General Introduction to the Topic

This is a good introduction to the misinformation and mythology that pervades our knowledge of crime and criminal justice. I have used this book as a required text when I teach CJ classes. It is perfect as a complement to traditional textbooks and a good read in itself. While I wish the authors would tighten up some sections and extend their coverage to more topics, this is the best book of its type available. The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice shows how much of what we think we know just isn't so!

Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice

This book has a mixture of great writing and interesting content. It's very easy to read, and enhances understanding of problems with propaganda and crime.