Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Historical Dictionary of American Criminal Justice (Historical Dictionaries of Professions and Industries)

There has never been a more important time for those involved in criminal justice policy, operations and civil service to know their history. The Historical Dictionary of American Criminal Justice provides a comprehensive overview of the development of criminal justice in the United States. Criminal justice is a multidisciplinary endeavor, emerging across time and place through the fields of philosophy, law, biology, anthropology, and sociology. Developments occur quickly and regularly, the meanings of which are deeply embedded, not only in an historical context, but in complicated social, economic, and political circumstances as well. The field is particularly vulnerable to the exploitations of power being as closely aligned with the forces of social control as it is. The Historical Dictionary of American Criminal Justice contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 1,200 cross-referenced entries on the most relevant concepts, cases, people, and terms. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about American criminal justice. Review The overall visual presentation is professional with quality materials and clear typeset. The table of contents lays out a navigation path for the book, and a 48-page bibliography offers sources dating from the mid-1800s to present day, sorted by topic. All of the authors have doctorate degrees and possess academic credentials. Historical Dictionary of American Criminal Justice is recommended for libraries or research centers and possibly for criminal justice professors as a quick reference source. It is also valuable for practitioners requiring an authoritative source citation.--Security Management Using an interdisciplinary approach, Historical Dictionary of American Criminal Justice chronicles how the field of criminal justice continues to advance at breathtaking speeds. The book represents the American experience as criminal justice develops into an independent discipline and academic field of study. Definitions offer accurate examinations that explore multidisciplinary terms in a fluid field. The dictionary includes 1,200 cross-referenced entries that support scholarship, curiosity, and academic research. The format incorporates timeline events and succinct descriptions. Superior fonts, line spacing, and alphabetized entries offer navigational signposts for piloting through copious data. This format offers easy access, and a concise, reader-friendly writing style. Contributing experts sustain balance and equilibrium in the midst of terminology murkiness that accompanies complex legal issues. This dictionary is an important learning tool and authoritative reference book. Public, high school, and university acquisition decision-makers should consider including the dictionary among traditional reference collections.--Thomas E. Baker--American Reference Books Annual About the Author Matthew J. Sheridan, Ed.D. is a Visiting Assistant Professor and the Director of Criminal Justice Internships at Georgian Court University. and author of Exploring and Understanding Careers in Criminal Justice. Raymond R. Rainville, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor and prior Chair of the Criminal Justice Department, Saint Peters University. He is a retired New Jersey Probation Administrator and one of the architects for the Intensive Supervision Program; a former president of the New Jersey Criminal Justice Educators Association; and author of Exploring and Understanding Careers in Criminal Justice. Anna King, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Georgian Court University. She has been an H.F. Guggenheim fellow, a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award fellow. She is the author of several articles and chapters that examine the relationship between empirical criminology and social reform, the psychology of public opini