Class, Race, Gender, and Crime: The Social Realities of Justice in America

(Paperback, Fifth Edition)

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Class, Race, Gender, and Crime is a popular, and provocative, introduction to crime and the criminal justice system through the lens of class, race, gender, and their intersections. The book systematically explores how the main sites of power and privilege in the United States consciously or unconsciously shape our understanding of crime and justice in society today.

The fifth edition maintains the overall structure of the fourth editionincluding consistent headings in chapters for class, race, gender, and intersectionswith updated examples, current data, and recent theoretical developments throughout. This new edition includes expanded discussions of police violence and the Black Lives Matter movement, immigration, and queer criminology.

This book is accompanied by instructor ancillaries. See the Resources tab for more information.

Instructors Manual. For each chapter in the text, this valuable resource provides a chapter outline, chapter summary, and suggestions for additional projects and activities related to the chapter.

Test Bank. The Test Bank includes multiple choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter. The Test Bank is available as a Word document, PDF, or through the test management system Respondus.

Reviews

The fifth edition of Class, Race, Gender, and Crime is, as in previous editions, a well-articulated discussion of the structural inequalities found throughout American society and reinforced through criminal justice system practices. However, this edition in particular is a timely addition to discussions of inequities within our society. The authors shine a harsh light on the nature, origin, and malignancy of long-standing and entrenched disparities that continue to marginalize, disadvantage, and disenfranchise the most vulnerable of American citizens. In doing so, the authors call immediate attention to the inherent and often untapped potential of the criminal justice system to embody and perpetuate the ideals of justice and equality. -- Jay P. Kennedy, Assistant Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University
Barak, Leighton, and Cotton give us a much-needed lesson about the actual realities of social control in the United Statesmasterfully delineating the simultaneous interactions of historical, legal, economic, social, political, and ideological forces defining, shaping, and governing criminal justice policy, enforcement, and discourse over time. The authors skillfully reveal the troubling realities of justice in America, with an astute view of those who live in the margins of societyoppressed and silencedskewed or untold stories that need to be exposed. In todays highly charged political atmosphere, Class, Race, Gender, and Crime provides readers a first-class education! -- Martin Guevara Urbina, Sul Ross State University
The authors once again demonstrate how class, race, gender, and crimefour explosive topics we're reluctant to talk about publiclyare interrelated and, more important, how these issues effect each and every one of us. For the authors, 'class' is not shorthand for the poor but includes the middle and upper class; 'gender' is not shorthand for women but includes men; 'race' is not shorthand for minorities but includes whites; and 'crime' is not shorthand for street crime but includes the crimes of the rich and powerful. Enlightening, sobering, and ultimately essential reading. This is admirable work. -- Katheryn Russell-Brown, University of Florida
The authors have revised and updated their excellent critical exploration of the impact of class, race, and gender on criminal justice practice in the United States. As with the earlier editions, written in clear, lively, jargon-free language, the book is an excellent text for students of criminal justice or criminology at all levels. No one can read this text without realizing the depth and complexity of the problems that face those who would make our criminal justice system truly a system of justice. -- Jeffrey Reiman, American University; coauthor of The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison
A hallmark of a great textbook is the ability to make students think in a critical and discriminating manner. This edition of Class, Race, Gender, and Crime is the epitome of a great text for not only students of criminal justice or criminology but all who are interested in the 'justness' of the criminal justice system. This revised and updated version has again systematically outlined the core issues and the complexity of class, race, and genderand the importance of the interrelatedness of these concepts. The objectiveness of the text works to transform readers into critical consumers of knowledge. That is instrumental in higher learning, and this text has captured that critical objective. This edition has propelled this book to rank as one of the best texts written on the issue of class, race, gender, and crime in the fields of criminal justice, criminology, and justice studies. -- Denise D. Nation, Winston-Salem State University

Author Bio

Gregg Barak is professor of criminology and criminal justice at Eastern Michigan University. He is the author of a number of books, including most recently his award winning book, Unchecked Corporate Power.

Paul Leighton is professor of criminology and criminal justice at Eastern Michigan University. He is author or co-author of several books, including Punishment for Sale and The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison.



Allison Cotton is professor of criminology and criminal justice at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is author of the book Effigy.