What Is A Crime. Defining Criminal Conduct In Contemporary Society

Cover Type: Softcover
Book Condition: Fair
Jacket Condition: None Issued
Publisher: University Of British Columbia Press
Publisher Place: Canada
Publisher Year: 2004
Edition: First Edition

Description: 194 pages. Ex-Library. Book is in Fair condition, there is some general wear, but still presentable.

Publishers Description: We all have notions of what it means to commit a crime. Most of us are very much aware of the behaviours which, by law, constitute crime. Rarely, however, do we stop to consider why certain activities and behaviours are deemed criminal and others are not. What Is A Crime examines how we define criminal conduct in contemporary society, and how we respond to it once it has been identified. Drawing from diverse scholarly traditions, including law, sociology, criminology and socio-legal studies, this rich collection of essays looks at the processes of defining crime and considers the varied and complex implications of our decisions to criminalize certain unwanted behaviour. From the perspective of various case studies, the contributors reflect on the social processes that inform definitions of crime, criminal law, and its enforcement, while illuminating the subjective nature of crime and questioning the role of law in dealing with complex social issues. What Is A Crime will be of interest to a broad spectrum of readers with an interest in the governance of crime and its control in contemporary society. Students and scholars of law, sociology, political science, philosophy, and criminology will find this book invaluable in furthering their understanding of the processes of defining and responding to crime and criminal behaviour. It will also hold sway with policymakers, criminal justice practitioners, and anyone with a stake in our current approaches to crime.

ISBN: 0774810874