Routledge Advancing Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy

Advancing Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy is a definitive sourcebook that is comprised of contributions from some of the most recognized experts in criminology and criminal justice policy. The book is essential reading for students taking upper level courses and seminars on crime, public policy and crime prevention, as well as for policy makers within the criminal justice sphere. There has been a growing recognition of the importance of evidence-based criminal justice policies from criminologists, policymakers, and practitioners. Yet, despite governmental and professional association efforts to promote the role of criminological research in criminal justice policy, political ideologies, fear, and the media heavily influence criminal justice policies and practices. Bridging the gap between research and policy, this book provides the best-available research evidence, identifies strategies for informing policy and offers direct policy recommendations for a number of pressing contemporary issues in criminal justice, including: Delinquency, intervention programs and community crime prevention, Problem-oriented policing and the science of hot-spot policing, Sentencing and drug courts, Community corrections, incarceration and rehabilitation, Mental illness, gender, aging and indigenous communities. Review For a quick, concise review of what is known about the effectiveness of current crime prevention practices and policies, this is your best resource. This volume provides a much needed critical assessment of contemporary criminal justice policy and practice. For a quick overview, this is the most comprehensive review available and the focus on policy is particularly welcome, given the limited credible evaluation evidence for this type of intervention.This scope of this volume is very broad, with short concise reviews of a wide range of current crime prevention practices and policies by the leading experts on specific types of intervention. Del Elliott, Ph.D., Director, Program on Problem Behavior and Positive Youth Development, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, USA   The editors have assembled a veritable who’s who of internationally renowned crime policy scholars for this volume, promising incisive reviews of critical issues across policing, courts, corrections, sentencing, and crime prevention. The authors deliver on that promise with precision, clarity, and insight. Skillfully weaving together theory, empirical evidence, and practical considerations to create a rich portrait of contemporary crime and criminal justice policy, each entry helps to clarify effective and cost-efficient ways forward. Notably, the essays also offer important counsel against relying on "common-sense" approaches to crime, which have often proven to be less than helpful and sometimes damaging. As the United States emerges from a period where ideology seemed to drive much of criminal justice policy, this book is essential reading for anyone who desires to have a meaningful impact on public safety. Brandon K. Applegate, University of South Carolina, USA   The American public’s concern about crime and the criminal justice has reached unprecedented levels. Media coverage of police killings of civilians has raised awareness about police use deadly of force, and data showing that the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any industrialized nation has spurred calls for reform. The pressure to "do something" about crime is strong. But past policies have often been based on sound bites and not empirical evidence. This book changes that. Advancing Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy is a sophisticated and intelligent book that covers an impressive array of topics. Each chapter summarizes the best available evidence on crime and crime control but―more importantly―it considers how scientific knowledge can be used to design better strategies. The contributing authors are all