Bloomsbury Academic Crime Policy in America: Laws, Institutions, and Programs

This book is a systematic examination of the nature of America's crime and criminal justice system as defined by its policy-makers at different times and in disparate contexts of social and political realities. By examining legislative documents and court cases and analyzing federal and state policy developments in such areas as drug crimes, juvenile crimes, sex crimes, and cyber crimes, this book provides a historically embedded and policy relevant understanding of how America's system of criminal justice was born, how it has grown, and where it is going. Review Crime Policy in America: Laws, Institutions, and Programs is a detailed and insightful analysis of the American criminal justice system. Dr. Shahidullah provides and exceptional historical review of the American criminal justice system and moves the reader to contemporary issues within the context of the appropriate cultural and social contexts and contests as played out within the criminal justice system. This book will be of great interest and benefit to scholars, students, and practitioners who wish to be exposed to the day-to-day ideological response and functions of the American criminal justice system.--James F. Hodgson, Vice President, Virginia Association of Criminal Justice Educators This is the first up-to-date book to provide an overview and discussions of the shaping of federal, state, and local criminal justice policies throughout American Society. This excellent book increased my knowledge of the social, political, psychological, and economic context of criminal justice policies. The most important contribution that Dr. Shahidullah has made to criminal justice knowledge-building is his comprehensive examination of the strengths and limitations of crime policies. I highly recommend this book to criminal justice students and practitioners, legislators, lobbyists, advocates, librarians, and educators.--Albert R. Roberts, professor of criminal justice, School of the Arts and Sciences, Rutgers Dr. Shahidullah provides a detailed and extensive review of the federalization of crime and justice policy in the United States. Crime Policy in America: Laws, Institutions, and Programs examines four areas (the criminalization of drugs, the control of juvenile delinquency, the evolution of sex offending and victimization, and the proliferation of new cyberspace crimes) that have significantly shaped contemporary American crime control policy. Carefully documenting a myriad of laws and regulations, as well as key Supreme Court decisions, Shahidullah illustrates the expansive growth of the federal and state crime legislation, and the subsequent growth of affiliated agencies, institutions, and programs. Clearly organized, the comprehensive reference is adaptable for classroom instruction, and will also serve the interests of policymakers, scholars and librarians.--Judith A. Ryder, Assistant Professor, St. John's University "Criminal Justice Abstracts " About the Author Shahid M. Shahidullah is Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice Program and Center for Criminal Justice Policy at Virginia State University.