Murder in America: A History

History of Crime and Criminal Justice

by Roger Lane

This book is the first serious study of the history of criminal homicide in America, reaching from precolonial times to the age of the O. J. Simpson trial. Noted historian Roger Lane provides this much-needed overview of the history of murder and our culture's responses to it. Lane demonstrates that the study of murder can provide important clues about the way society actually works, its fears and tensions, its concept of justice, and the value it places on different kinds of human life. Roger Lane simply asks the same questions of the past that we ask of the What causes murder rates to go up or down? How efficiently or fairly has the justice system worked in dealing with homicide? What are or have been the roles of economic difference and family structure, of the courts and the media, of the Wild West and the urban Industrial Revolution, of Indian warfare and African-American slavery? But if the questions are familiar, Lane shows us that the answers cannot be fitted neatly into boxes we now label either "liberal" or "conservative." They will surprise most readers.

Genres: History, True Crime, Crime

432 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Mallory]

This book was just as much a refresher on American history as it was a learning experience of murder in America. I thought it was a pretty politically non-biased and straightforward explanation of the evolution of murder among populations over time. Some interesting tidbits include the fact that a man essentially got a "1 free murder card" if he could prove he could read and write in medieval England and that slaves did not count as people and therefore could not bear witness in court to having watched their master dismember and decapitate a fellow slave. I always find it interesting that the history of America, or more specifically the United States, begins with English history. I suppose "America" did not begin to exist until the English named and conquered it. Overall, this book is a fairly fascinating analysis of murder mostly among White populations from a White point of view.

[Courtney]

Now that's a comprehensive history of murder (mostly homicide) in the United States! We read it alongside Halttunen's Murder Most Foul to get a better understanding. Historical influences and factors of everyday life, societal changes, etc. Great book, Lane is a smooth writer as well. Not too textbook-y thank goodness.

If you wonder what he looks/sounds like, Lane is interviewed as an expert for the History Channel Lizzie Borden "mystery" special in the late 1990s.

[Beth Barnett]

An interesting read that demonstrates that violence and murder incidents are not a modern phenomenon in America. There have always been incidents, we're just more aware of them and afraid of them now for some reason. Perhaps media coverage? Dunno.

[Nranger7]

A bit dated at this point but still a great source on the study of crime in America and how the blame cannot be put on one specific cause such as guns or poverty. People who are currently freaking out about gun laws should read this before speaking.

[Elizabeth Joyce]

Read this in college...still remember it! Gripping! It is a timeline of crime throughout American history.