Bloomsbury Academic Crime, Policing and Punishment in England, 1660-1914

Crime, Policing and Punishment in England, 1660-1914 offers an overview of the changing nature of crime and its punishment from the Restoration to World War 1. It charts how prosecution and punishment have changed from the early modern to the modern period and reflects on how the changing nature of English society has affected these processes. By combining extensive primary material alongside a thorough analysis of historiography this text offers an invaluable resource to students and academics alike. The book is arranged in two sections: the first looks at the evolution and development of the criminal justice system and the emergence of the legal profession, and examines the media's relationship with crime. Section two examines key themes in the history of crime, covering the emergence of professional policing, the move from physical punishment to incarceration and the importance of gender and youth. Finally, the book draws together these themes and considers how the Criminal Justice System has developed to suit the changing nature of the British state. Review "[Gray] has written an admirable textbook drawing on his own experience in different archives and combining this with an excellent ability to condense the published material and to make shrewd judgments ... This will prove to be a valuable text, especially given the accompanying website materials." - Journal of Modern HistoryGray's book makes an immensely valuable contribution to the history of crime, not least since he brings it to life as the vibrant field that it is, characterized not only by dramatic tales from the archives, but also by conceptual nuance, empirical detail, and methodological dispute ... Drew Gray has certainly set a standard that subsequent work will be hard pressed to match. --Journal of British Studies In the last 40 years or so, the field of criminal justice history has expanded greatly through multiple disciplines, the subject generally comprising crime, legal and judicial procedures, police, and punishment. Researchers today can benefit from the fact that many sources are online. Even the most diligent of scholars can hardly keep up with recent publications; for this reason, comprehensive books are especially welcome. Gray (history of crime, Univ. of Northampton, UK) has done an admirable job covering the development of the modern criminal justice system in England. He begins with crime in its various manifestations: crime numbers, media and crime, gender considerations, juvenile crime, changing attitudes toward violence, and much more. In the second part of the book, he supplies a chronological account of the evolution of the judicial system, policing, and changing modes of punishment. At every stage, the author mentions specific historians and schools of interpretation, from Whig history to history from below and more, while always demonstrating that a solid understanding of the historical context is crucial. The book is enlightening, well documented, and clearly written. It should be in all libraries of higher education. Summing Up: Essential. All academic levels/libraries. --CHOICE "Drew Gray has provided a much needed new survey of the rapidly evolving field of English criminal justice history. He offers a balanced and nuanced reading of the older debates that launched the subject forty years ago, and he charts promising paths for future research. His book is particularly strong on topics that other texts have neglected -- juvenile crime, the role of magistrates in summary justice, mundane criminality. He displays impressive mastery of the secondary literature even as he builds upon his own deep understanding of justice in the period. His book will provide a valuable introduction to students new to the subject and a useful overview to scholars who work in this area." --Randall McGowen, University of Oregon"Drew Gray is one of the most creative and productive members of the newest generation of criminal j