Children of the Prison Boom: Mass Incarceration and the Future of American Inequality
By Sara Wakefield and Christopher Wildeman
Call number: HV 8886 .U5 .W35 2014
“Drawing on broadly representative survey data and qualitative interviews, Children of the Prison Boom describes the devastating effects of America’s experiment in mass incarceration for a generation of vulnerable children. Parental imprisonment has been transformed from an event affecting only the unluckiest of children—children of parents whose involvement in crime would have been quite serious—to one that is remarkably common, especially for black children. Even for children at high risk of problems, Children of the Prison Boom shows that paternal incarceration makes a bad situation worse and substantially increases family instability and racial inequality in child well-being (Publisher).”
Crimes that Changed our World: Tragedy, Outrage, and Reform
By Paul H. Robinson and Sarah M. Robinson
Call number: K 5032 .R63 2018
“Sometimes the engine of reform kicks into gear simply because we decide as a society that we are no longer willing to tolerate a long-standing problem and are now willing to do something about it.”
This unique new book presents the concept of “trigger crimes” and analyzes 21 crimes that led to social reform. The authors’ thesis is that crimes define our society just as any other aspect of culture. Their focus is on the United States, with one example from the U.K.; and the twentieth century, from 1911 (the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire) to 2001 (the Enron financial scandal). Each discussion follows the format “tragedy – outrage – reform,” by first describing the case and its social context, then the societal outrage following the event, then the laws, systems, or institutions put into place to prevent recurrence. Many chapters go “beyond reform” to discuss broader implications. The authors provide extensive source notes for each case discussed, and use archival photos to illustrate them. The concluding chapter provides a systematic review and could stand on its own. The keyword index is extensive.
Gun Control in the United States: A Reference Handbook, Second edition
By Gregg Lee Carter
Call number: HV 7436 .C36 2017
“This book offers concise, understandable coverage of all aspects of the issue, including incidence of gun violence; gun control; gun rights; government regulation, legislation, and court decisions; gun organizations (for gun control and for gun rights); gun enthusiast subcultures—for example, hunters, target shooters, and collectors; and U.S. attitudes toward guns. Many of the covered topics are placed in historical and cross-cultural perspective … [to provide] a balanced view of the contemporary gun debate in the United States, explaining the positions of both gun rights proponents and advocates of stricter gun control without demonizing either. It draws on a vast array of research in criminology, history, law, medicine, politics, and social science to provide one of the most comprehensive single-source references on gun issues. [This new edition] presents current and historical data on U.S. gun violence—including homicides, suicides, and accidental shoots—and places these numbers against international statistics on gun violence, thereby providing the context to enable readers to reach their own opinion on the gun debate” (Publisher).
Understanding Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Edited by Marilyn D. McShane and Michael Cavanaugh
Call number: HV 9104 .U475 2016
“Understanding Juvenile Justice and Delinquency provides a concise overview of the most compelling issues in juvenile delinquency today. It covers not only the range of offenses but also the offenders themselves as well as those impacted by crime and delinquency. All of the chapters contain up-to-date research, laws, and data that accurately frame discussions on youth violence, detention, and treatment; related issues such as gangs and drugs; the consequences for scholars, teachers, and students; and best practices in intervention methods.
“Presents analysis and evaluation of techniques used and programs employed, enabling readers to be better advocates for law and policy impacting youth. Includes discussion questions appropriate for classroom settings and lists of additional resources, related websites, and supporting films that guide students in investigating the subject further. Supplies updated data and information on policy and law that will serve as a vital resource for students writing papers or scholars teaching in the field of juvenile justice” (Publisher).
Routledge Handbook on Offenders with Special Needs
Edited by Kimberly D. Dodson
Call number: HV 9469 .R68 2018
“The Routledge Handbook on Offenders with Special Needs is an in-depth examination of offenders who are learning-challenged, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, as well as substance abusers, sex offenders, women, juveniles, and chronically and terminally ill offenders. Areas that previously have been neglected are explored: the treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender offenders, and racial and gender disparities in health care delivery, as well as pregnancy and parenthood behind bars, homelessness, and the incarceration of veterans and immigrants. In addition, the book covers legal and management issues related to the treatment and rehabilitation of special populations in prisons/jails and the community, including police-citizen interactions, diversion through specialty courts, obstacles and challenges related to reentry and reintegration, and the need for the development and implementation of evidence-based criminal justice policies and practices regarding these groups.
This is a key collection for students taking courses in prisons, penology, criminal justice, criminology, and related areas of study, and an essential resource for academics and practitioners working with offenders with special needs” (Publisher). Each chapter is written by a specialist and contains an extensive bibliography. A cumulative index is provided.
Fort Wayne & Warsaw Library Blogs 