Entryways to Criminal Justice: Accusation and Criminalization in Canada

A complex and wide-reaching volume that asks how and why people are constructed as “criminals.”

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2019
Publisher: University of Alberta Press

Entryways to Criminal Justice is a comprehensive volume that delves into the complex processes by which societies determine who to criminalize. It explores the thresholds that differentiate law-abiding individuals from those who may be labeled as offenders. The book brings together a diverse range of contributors, each adopting social, historical, cultural, and political perspectives, to examine the accusatory process that brings individuals into contact with the law.

One of the central themes of Entryways to Criminal Justice is the importance of truth-telling and overcriminalization. The authors emphasize the gateways through which individuals can enter the criminal justice system, including police encounters, arrests, trials, and sentencing. They shed light on often overlooked practices that admit persons to criminal justice, such as racial profiling, stop-and-frisk searches, and mandatory minimum laws.

By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, Entryways to Criminal Justice provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics that shape criminal justice systems. The authors draw from a wide range of sources, including legal scholarship, social research, and empirical evidence, to examine the factors that contribute to the criminalization of particular groups and individuals. They explore the social, economic, and political factors that perpetuate inequality and discrimination, and how these factors intersect with the criminal justice system to exacerbate existing disparities.

The book is particularly relevant for scholars, students, and policy makers in the fields of socio-legal studies, sociology, criminology, law and society, and post/colonial studies. It offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the processes by which societies decide whom to criminalize and the implications of such decisions for individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

In conclusion, Entryways to Criminal Justice is a thought-provoking and essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complex processes by which societies determine who to criminalize. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach and drawing from a wide range of sources, the book provides valuable insights into the factors that contribute to the criminalization of particular groups and individuals. It is a must-read for scholars, students, and policy makers in the fields of socio-legal studies, sociology, criminology, law and society, and post/colonial studies.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 229 x 159 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781772123364