The Politics of Crime Prevention: Race, Public Opinion, and the Meaning of Community Safety

The slogan "Defund the police" became a rallying cry among Black Lives Matter protesters following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. This book examines American public opinion about crime prevention in the twenty-first century, focusing on how average citizens would choose to prioritize resources between the criminal justice system and community-based institutions. It reveals that politicians underestimate the American public's desire to prioritize community investment and that it is long past time to help communities thrive instead of turning to the criminal justice system.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2023
Publisher: New York University Press

The slogan "Defund the police" emerged as a powerful rallying cry among Black Lives Matter protesters in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis in May 2020. It raises a fundamental question about American policy priorities: Should the nation primarily rely on the criminal justice system to arrest, prosecute, and imprison offenders, or should it prioritize addressing structural causes of crime by investing more heavily in the infrastructure and institutions of disadvantaged communities? To put it simply, do Americans prefer punishment over crime prevention?

The Politics of Crime Prevention delves into American public opinion about crime prevention in the twenty-first century, with a specific focus on how average citizens would allocate resources between the criminal justice system and community-based institutions. Kevin H. Wozniak examines differences in opinion across racial, social class, and political party lines, investigating whether people's willingness to invest in communities depends on the types of communities that would receive funding. This book departs from the traditional focus of criminologists on public opinion about punishment following criminal acts and instead examines public attitudes toward crime prevention. In this insightful and compelling study, Wozniak reveals that politicians significantly underestimate the American public's desire to prioritize community investment, and it is high time to support communities in thriving rather than relying on the criminal justice system to address every social problem.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479815722