by David B. Wolcott. In this fascinating glimpse into the history and development of the American criminal justice system and the social contexts that contributed to its evolution from 1500 to now, the authors suggest that "narratives involving crime-both fictional and real-become focal points for understanding the issues of the day." The chronologically arranged chapters include narrative text describing the crimes and punishments of the period followed by a two- to three-page chronicle of events and selections from relevant primary documents. The text is liberally illustrated with black-and-white photos, paintings, and drawings that are representative of the crime-related events under discussion, the social context in which they occurred, and their impact on society. Appendixes include primary-source documents; biographies of "major personalities" such as criminals, gangsters, social workers, politicians, and law officers; national crime statistics are portrayed on maps and in graphs and tables. A regrettably short glossary of terms is included, plus a bibliography of criminal cases and primary and secondary sources for further information. Wolcott and Head are both scholars of U.S. history, social history, and the histories of criminal justice and ideas. BOTTOM LINE An absorbing volume that will draw in casual readers as well as provide a starting point for high school and undergraduate research. Recommended for public and high school libraries and academic libraries that support an undergraduate curriculum in criminal justice. --Library Journal.
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