The Making of Criminal Justice Policy

This new textbook addresses the needs of the student of criminology for a better understanding of criminal justice policy and offers a framework for analysing the social, economic and political processes that shape its creation. The book will connect the study of criminology to the wider study of public policy, government institutions, and political decision making and challenge students to consider the contested nature of evidence and the role of the academic, practitioner and campaigner in criminal justice policy making. Key features include: a critical and informed analysis of the concepts, ideas and institutional practices that shape criminal justice policy making, an exploration of the inter-relationship between criminal justice and wider social policy, a critical analysis of the debate about how and why behaviour becomes defined as requiring a criminal justice solution, a range of case studies, tasks, seminar questions and suggested further readings to keep the student engaged. This text is perfect for the undergraduate taking modules in criminology, criminal justice and social and public policy as well as students taking courses on policing, probation and the voluntary sector.