Reference

摘要

Jones-Brown (Race, Crime and Punishment), Beverly D. Frazier (both law, police science and criminal justice administration, John Jay Coll. of Criminal Justice, City Univ. of New York), and Marvie Brooks (retired, City Univ. of New York library system) tackle here a current and controversial topic. The 129 entries by 109 contributors cover 300 years of U.S. law and criminal justice practice at local, state, and federal levels. Biographical sketches of famous and infamous African Americans such as Johnnie Cochran Jr., Emmett Till, W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Medgar Evers, Trayvon Martin, and Margaret La-verne Mitchell are provided. Topical entries include some on gangs, juries, sex crimes and race, lynching, and racial profiling. Most are two to six pages in length, with some more in-depth articles running 12-14 pages. Each entry includes references. A directory of entries opens the volume and back matter supplies a lineup of contributors and a general index. A chronology of major events and legislation would have been a helpful addition. The layout is attractive and the language is approachable by undergraduates seeking background information on a topic. The material shows that the editors have made an effort to maintain objectivity in the presentation of provocative ideas, although the brevity of most entries does not allow the depth of explanation that might be needed in entries such as "Youth Violence," with its significant use of statistics. VERDICT Very recent events on this subject-the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, and Eric Garner in New York, and the resulting demonstrations-are not included in this volume, but there is ample relevant material in a very attractive package for anyone doing research in this area. Highly recommended.