Demystifying Crime and Criminal Justice

"Demystifying Crime and Criminal Justice" is organized to follow a logical progression through the criminal justice process. Part One addresses myths about crime; Part Two examines myths about law enforcement; Part Three investigates myths about the administration of justice; and Part Four focuses on myths about punishment and corrections. A unique feature of the book is that every chapter follows the same format. Each chapter opens with a brief section introducing a myth or a set of myths about a particular topic. Next follows the "The Kernel of Truth" section, in which accurate aspects of the myth or myths are identified because for myths to be believable and accepted, they generally must contain at least a kernel of truth. In the third section, "The Truth or Facts," the authors debunk the myth or myths by providing evidence, followed by "Interests Served by the Myth," which illuminates how the interests of specific individuals or groups are promoted by the creation and perpetuation of the myths. Finally, "Policy Implications of Belief in the Myth" highlights some of the practical and often undesirable consequences of belief in the myth or myths. Written in clear, accessible language, "Demystifying Crime and Criminal Justice" engages readers with straightforward analysis and cutting-edge information and research. Designed to stimulate critical thinking and class discussions, this mindset-challenging anthology will give students a depth of understanding about crime and criminal justice that few other books offer.

Table of Contents:
SECTION ONE: CRIME 1. The Myth That Crime and Criminality Can Be Measured Hal Pepinsky The myth that crime statistics accurately show what crimes are being committed and what crimes are most harmful. 2. The Myth That Mental Illness Causes Crime Jennifer L. Bullock and Bruce A. Arrigo The myth that most criminals--especially the dangerous ones--are mentally ill. 3. The Myth That White-Collar Crime Is Only About Financial Loss David O. Friedrichs The myth that white-collar crimes do not hurt anyone. 4. The Myth of Race and Crime Katheryn Russell-Brown The myth that minorities commit more crime, especially more violent crime. 5. The Myth That Serial Murderers Are Disproportionately White Males Joseph B. Kuhns III and Charisse T. M. Coston The myth that serial killers are middle-aged, white males. 6. The Myth of Drug Users as Violent Offenders Henry H. Brownstein The myth that drug use causes violent crime. 7. Myths About Drug Legalization or Decriminalization Barbara Sims and Michael Kenney The myth that legalization or decriminalization of illegal drugs would wreak havoc on society. 8. Demystifying Terrorism: "Crazy Islamic Terrorists Who Hate Us Because We're Free?" Paul Leighton The myth that terrorists are crazed people who hate Americans. SECTION TWO: LAW ENFORCEMENT 9. The Myth That the Role of the Police Is to Fight Crime David E. Barlow and Melissa Hickman Barlow The myth that the role of police officers is to fight crime and protect law-abiding citizens. 10. The Myth of a Monolithic Police Culture Eugene A. Paoline III The myth that police officers respond to their work environment in similar ways. 11. The Myth of Policewomen on Patrol Kim Lersch The myth that women do not make good patrol officers. 12. The Myths of Racial Profiling Michael Buerger The myth that police target minorities for traffic stops and arrests. 13. The Myth That Science Solves Crimes Gary Cordner and Kathryn E. Scarborough The myth that most crimes are solved through science. 14. The Myths That COMPSTAT Reduces Crime, Transforms Police Organizations, and Makes the Police More Effective James J. Willis, Stephen D. Mastrofski, and David Weisburd The myth that COMPSTAT has finally made policing effective at reducing crime. SECTION THREE: ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 15. The Myth of Positive Differentiation Dennis R. Longmire, Jacqueline Buffington-Vollum, and Scott Vollum The myth that "criminals" are significantly different from "noncriminals." 16. The Myth That the Exclusionary Rule Allows Many Criminals to Escape Justice Richard Janikowski The myth that many criminals escape justice because of the exclusionary rule. 17. The Myth That Harsh Punishments Reduce Juvenile Crime Donna M. Bishop The myth that subjecting juvenile offenders to harsh punishments can reduce crimes committed by juveniles. 18. The Myth That Public Attitudes Are Punitive Russ Immarigeon The myth that public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of imprisonment and harsh punishment for offenders. 19. The Myth That the Death Penalty Is Administered Fairly Brandon Applegate The myth that the death penalty is imposed fairly. 20. The Myth of Closure and Capital Punishment James R. Acker The myth that the death penalty brings closure and a sense of justice to the family and friends of murder victims. SECTION FOUR: CORRECTIONS 21. The Myth That Punishment Reduces Crime Raymond Michalowski The myth that punishing criminals reduces crime. 22. The Myth That Imprisonment Is the Most Severe Form of Punishment Peter B. Wood The myth that prison is the most severe punishment, because criminals fear prison more than any other type of punishment (except capital punishment). 23. The Myth of Prisons As Country Clubs Marilyn McShane, Beth Pelz, and Frank P. Williams III The myth that prisons are too lenient in their day-to-day operations. 24. The Myth That Prisons Can Be Self Supporting Mary Parker The myth that prisons could be self-sufficient if only prisoners were forced to work. 25. Correctional Privatization and the Myth of Inherent Efficiency Curtis Blakely and John Ortiz Smykla The myth that private prisons are more cost effective than state-run prisons. 26. The Myth That the Focus of Community Corrections Is Rehabilitation Mark Jones The myth that the focus of community corrections is rehabilitation rather than punishment. 27. The Myth That Correctional Rehabilitation Does Not Work Francis T. Cullen and Paula Smith The myth that criminals cannot be rehabilitated.

Review :
This volume presents reasonable arguments questioning conventional wisdom on provocative, topical issues in criminal justice. The approach offers students an opportunity to think and discern what they believe, and how these "myths" reflect how they really know what they think they know. --Jeffrey P. Rush, University of Louisiana