These are examples of reference sources available through University Libraries.
Social History of Crime and Punishment in America by Wilbur Redington MillerSeveral encyclopedias overview the contemporary system of criminal justice in America, but full understanding of current social problems and contemporary strategies to deal with them can come only with clear appreciation of the historical underpinnings of those problems. Thus, this five-volume work surveys the history and philosophy of crime, punishment, and criminal justice institutions in America from colonial times to the present. It covers the whole of the criminal justice system, from crimes, law enforcement and policing, to courts, corrections and human services. Among other things, this encyclopedia: explicates philosophical foundations underpinning our system of justice; charts changing patterns in criminal activity and subsequent effects on legal responses; identifies major periods in the development of our system of criminal justice; and explores in the first four volumes - supplemented by a fifth volume containing annotated primary documents - evolving debates and conflicts on how best to address issues of crime and punishment. Its signed entries in the first four volumes--supplemented bya fifth volume containing annotated primary documents--provide the historical context for students to better understand contemporary criminological debates and the contemporary shape of the U.S. system of law and justice."
ISBN: 9781412988780
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
African Americans and Criminal Justice by Delores Jones-Brown (Editor); Beverly D. Frazier (Editor); Marvie Brooks (Editor)"African Americans and Criminal Justice: An Encyclopedia" comprises descriptive essays documenting the ways in which people of African descent have been victimized by oppressive laws enacted by local, state, and federal authorities in the United States. The entries also describe how Blacks became disproportionately represented in national crime statistics, largely through their efforts to resist legalized oppression in early American history, and present biographies of famous and infamous Black criminal suspects and victims throughout early American history and in contemporary times. Providing coverage of law and criminal justice practices from the precolonial period, including the introduction of African slaves, up to practices in modern-day America, this encyclopedia presents a frank and comprehensive view of how Americans of African descent have come to be viewed as synonymous with criminality. This book represents an essential learning resource for all American citizens, regardless of race or age.
ISBN: 9780313357169
Sexual Violence and Abuse by Judy L. PostmusHalf a century after sexual violence and abuse was recognized as a social problem in the 1960s, we are still battling the same problems: Perpetrators are still sexually abusing children, raping women, and assaulting men, while the victims continue to struggle with feelings of immense shame, grief, and guilt, and are unsure where to seek help. In order to advance human society, further research on the causes of sexual violence and abuse is necessary in order to identify the most effective intervention techniques for specific cultures.