Mythology of Crime

by Victor E. Kappeler and Gary W. Potter

Book Overview

An insightful look at the realities of crime & justice that challenges basic assumptions & misconceptions about specific crimes or parts of the criminal justice system.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1577660781
• ISBN13: 9781577660781
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Waveland Press
• Length: 354 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great discussion and thought generator!

I use this book in a general education course "Crime and Justice". It gets the students going and keeps them interested. For those of you who say it is one-sided, challenge yourself or your students to present evidence to the contrary. One of the best I have used in a long time!

Lightning Speed Service

The book arrived pretty quick and was pretty much brand new for the purchased price... Thank you. Great Job!!!

True to its Title!

If the measure of a good book is ability to stimulate thought then this is a good book! The authors systematically examine a range of common beliefs held about the criminal justice system and illustrate these are either wrong, or at least should be closely scrutinized. They undoubtedly adopt a critical perspective in their analysis, which is very refreshing and a valuable counter to media sensationalism over mythical "superpredators" and other common images. The authors' claims are based on freely available evidence rather than haphazard appeals to "common sense" and as such is a valuable resource to stimulate debate on crime issues.

This is the Best General Introduction to the Topic

This is a good introduction to the misinformation and mythology that pervades our knowledge of crime and criminal justice. I have used this book as a required text when I teach CJ classes. It is perfect as a complement to traditional textbooks and a good read in itself. While I wish the authors would tighten up some sections and extend their coverage to more topics, this is the best book of its type available. The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice shows how much of what we think we know just isn't so!

Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice

This book has a mixture of great writing and interesting content. It's very easy to read, and enhances understanding of problems with propaganda and crime.