Darnell F. Hawkins, Samuel L. Myers, and Randolph N. Stone (Editors). Crime Control and Social Justice: the Delicate Balance.Darnell F. Hawkins, Samuel L. Myers, and Randolph N. Stone (Editors). Crime Control and Social Justice: The Delicate Balance. Westport, Connecticut Westport is a coastal town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in the United States. The 2004 population estimate was 26,644. The town is as affluent as other expensive Fairfield County towns, boasting a per capita income of more than $70,000. : Greenwood Press, 2003. $79.95 hardcover. With the burgeoning explosion of incarcerated incarcerated /in·car·cer·at·ed/ (in-kahr´ser-at?ed) imprisoned; constricted; subjected to incarceration. in·car·cer·at·ed adj. Confined or trapped, as a hernia. individuals throughout the country, and the proliferation of prisons in which to house them, this volume explores the nation's current policies on crime control in conjunction with issues of social justice. While the literature is replete with research on prisons, prison systems and incarcerated individuals, this collection is unique in blending the research on the criminal justice system with parallel policies regarding criminal and social justice. Hawkins, Myers and Stone provide a seminal work A seminal work is a work from which other works grow. The term usually refers to an intellectual or artistic achievement whose ideas and techniques have been adopted or responded to in later works by other people, either in the same field or in the general culture. that challenges the reader to think beyond the status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. . The text is divided into three sections. The first section examines the interplay between families and high risk youth with the current political, economic and criminal justice policies in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The five essays in this section provide an in-depth analysis of the economic and social ramifications ramifications npl → Auswirkungen pl of the enormous increase in both the adult and juvenile prison populations as a result of current criminal justice policies. It is an insightful and absorbing compilation of studies that emphasizes the social costs we are incurring for harsh sentencing policies particularly related to non-violent offenders and youth. The second section of the book addresses the issues of gangs, drug law enforcement, racial discrimination in arrests, oppression of minorities and public attitudes. Examples of racial profiling The consideration of race, ethnicity, or national origin by an officer of the law in deciding when and how to intervene in an enforcement capacity. Police officers often profile certain types of individuals who are more likely to perpetrate crimes. arrests from gangs and drug raids to traffic stops and customs searches are highlighted throughout this section. Ample empirical evidence is provided to support the conclusion that despite the current rhetoric about anti-racial profiling legislation, minorities have a much higher chance of being arrested, incarcerated and sentenced to longer prison terms for non-violent offenses than white persons. In addition, the influence of public attitudes on crime control policies is explored. The final section of studies takes a hard look at the disparities between crime control policies and racism, oppression and social injustice Social Injustice is a concept relating to the perceived unfairness or injustice of a society in its divisions of rewards and burdens. The concept is distinct from those of justice in law, which may or may not be considered moral in practice. . The moral philosophy inherent in criminal justice policy is addressed. The tensions that exist between the rehabilitative viewpoint and the punitive perspective of incarceration Confinement in a jail or prison; imprisonment. Police officers and other law enforcement officers are authorized by federal, state, and local lawmakers to arrest and confine persons suspected of crimes. The judicial system is authorized to confine persons convicted of crimes. are discussed as they relate to evolving public and political attitudes. Two studies on affirmative action affirmative action, in the United States, programs to overcome the effects of past societal discrimination by allocating jobs and resources to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women. and its relationship to criminal law are examined with proposals for race-consciousness awareness within the criminal justice system. The final chapter provides a summary and conclusion to the volume. In addition, Darnell Hawkins, the author, challenges readers to continue to deliberate about the social inequalities of minority populations in our neighborhoods, communities and ultimately the criminal justice system. This scholarly volume is a fascinating analysis of current crime control and social justice issues by leading experts in the field. The editors have woven these studies into a very readable and interesting whole that captures the reader's attention. Unlike many edited texts, this book flows smoothly in a logical and sequential fashion. The diversity of authors, from economists and sociologists to lawyers and criminologists, provide readers with the breadth and depth of these important social issues. These experts are leaders in their respective fields of study and their thorough knowledge of the subject matter is apparent throughout the collection of compositions. Perhaps the book's only limitation is the redundant statistics on incarceration provided at the beginning of the majority of chapters. While it is not unusual to document these statistics in a scholarly work, it seems unnecessary to repeat the same information throughout the text. Despite this minor issue, each essay is full of rich material that expands the reader's knowledge of current criminal and social justice issues. Overall, this reviewer found this volume to be a valuable resource and learning tool. Professionals and students in a wide variety of fields including economics, sociology, political science, law, criminal justice and social work among others would benefit from reading this book. It is an impressive and timely exposition of important social issues that should be openly debated and researched. The book is an enlightening en·light·en tr.v. en·light·ened, en·light·en·ing, en·light·ens 1. To give spiritual or intellectual insight to: and engaging anthology of studies that will surely lead to lively and intense discussions. Elizabeth C. Pomeroy University of Texas at Austin “University of Texas” redirects here. For other system schools, see University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Austin (often referred to as The University of Texas, UT Austin, UT, or Texas |
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