Flawed Criminal Justice Policies: At the Intersection of the Media, Public Fear and Legislative Response

by Frances P. Reddington (Editor), Gene Bonham (Editor)

This textbook reader examines the concept of flawed policies in the criminal justice arena. The authors address the costs of bad criminal justice policy and offer suggestions for the creation of good, sound, evidence-based policy. Specific topics highlighted • The War on Drugs • Immigration Laws • The Patriot Act and Terrorist Laws • Sentencing Guidelines • Three Strikes Laws • Capital Punishment • Sex Offender Laws • "Get Tough" Juvenile Policy • Zero Tolerance in Schools • Policies for Mental Health Offenders • Policies with Pregnant Offenders Courses appropriate for this textbook reader include upper level undergraduate and graduate level criminal justice courses dealing at least in part with public policies, the media impact on law making, public fear of crime and the legislative response. Other disciplines will also find this book an excellent supplement to their courses in Psychology, Political Science, Public Administration and Policy.
"As a policy-oriented coursebook in the social science arena, Flawed Criminal Justice Policies by Reddington and Bonham is unparalleled. The authors' proficiency in examining unsustainable criminal justice policies, the misguided public perception and the capricious nature of the media's portrayal of crime compels students to reexamine our nation's crime problem from a much more common sense approach. My students described the textbook as 'practical, real world and thought provoking'. I highly recommend this text and many of my colleagues have also adopted it. It will truly engage your students and elicit great debates and classroom discussion."
― Professor Joanne C. Metzger J.D, Temple University, Department of Criminal Justice The Teacher's Manual is available as a pdf via email or on a CD. Please contact Beth Hall at bhall@cap-press.com to request a copy. PowerPoint slides are available upon adoption. Sample slides from the full, 153-slide presentation are available to view . Email bhall@cap-press.com for more information.

314 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2011

Reviews

[rhonda Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting thoughts, but some ideas I cannot agree with.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This is a compilation of essays that seem to be edited haphazardly from longer academic journal articles or texts. None of the information is well cited. This is a good introductory primer to many of the issues creating challenges to enacting and enforcing fair criminal justice policy, but you will have to go elsewhere for a deeper, more nuanced discussion of each policy.

[A A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the literature was great however, knowing that there are so many flawed policies - what are they doing about it besides informing the public?