Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment

Editor/Author: Levinson, David
Publication Year: 2002
Publisher: Sage Publications

ISBN: 978-0-7619-2258-2
Category: social sciences
Image Count: 176
Book Status: Available

Citing both the enormous amount of information currently available on crime and increased interest in the topic since September 11, editor Levinson aims to give readers a comprehensive overview by bringing together material from numerous sources. The encyclopedia covers a whole range of unusual topics. Written in a popular style, the work is not overburdened with graphs, statistics, or extraneous facts, which makes it a browser's paradise.

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The year 2002 has already produced a glut of reference works on criminal justice including World of Criminal Justice, ed. by Shirelle Phelps (2v., 2002), and Encyclopedia of Crime & Justice, ed. by Joshua Dressler (2nd ed., 4v., CH, Jun'02). Respected editor Levinson's entry into this crowded field is ambitious and attractively presented, ostensibly intended for a professional audience, but perhaps of more use to general readers and high school students. This comprehensive survey contains 439 signed articles based on the most current information; they are contributed by university professors, police, and corrections professionals. Entries covering the gamut of crime, forensics, law and justice, concepts/theories, victimology, and allied themes are liberally illustrated with statistical graphs, photos, factoids, and other information offered in sidebars. Though primarily focused on the US, other countries are discussed. Appendixes include information on careers in criminal justice, Web resources, and a selected bibliography. Cross-references abound, and the general index is adequate.
D. K. Frasier
Indiana University-Bloomington
This four-volume encyclopedia will prove an invaluable addition to any reference collection. There are more than 400 entries, beginning with "Abolitionism" and concluding with "Zero Tolerance Policing." In addition, there is a reader's guide that groups all of the entries into 13 general categories, including "Crimes and Related Behaviors," "Forensics," "Corrections," "Concepts and Theories," and "Special Populations." While focused primarily on the United States, the encyclopedia does not ignore relevant material from other nations. For example, under the general category of "Punishment," readers can find the entry "Alternative Punishments in Sub-Saharan Africa." Under the general category "International," users can find references to China, France, Germany, and Russia as well as references to Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, and Hinduism. In that same category, there is an entry for "Women and Crime in a Global Perspective."Each entry concludes with references (if any) to any related entries and recommendations for further reading. For example, under "Whistle-Blowing" the related entries are "Corporate Crime," "Police Corruption," and "Political Corruption." The 4th volume contains four appendixes ("Careers in Criminal Justice," "Web Resources for Criminal Justice," "Professional and Scholarly Associations," and a selected bibliography) followed by an outstanding 80-page index. Each volume concludes with the same 38-page chronology that begins in 1795 B.C.E.-1750 B.C.E. (the Code of Hammurabi) and concludes in 2002 (the beginning investigations into the Enron scandal). This work is highly recommended without reservation.
Michael A. Foley
Honors Director, Marywood College, Scranton, Pa