Visions for Change: Crime and Justice in the Twenty-First Century (4th Edition) [Paperback]

Roslyn Muraskin (Author), Albert R. Roberts (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131776894 | ISBN-13: 978-0131776890 | Publication Date: April 29, 2004 | Edition: 4

For courses in Introduction to Criminal Justice, Critical Issues in Criminal Justice, Ethics and Crime, Policy and Victimology, Corrections, Probation and Parole, Law Enforcement, and Sociology. Exceptionally current and complete, this collection of readings examines-in detail-critical criminal justice policies and practices as evident in all criminal justice agencies throughout the United States. Linking the past, present, and future of criminal justice, the authors discuss important issues currently impacting the system, address the challenges that lie ahead in criminal justice in the 21st century, and outline their vision for how these issues will be handled in the next century.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Focusing on the police courts, corrections, technology and gender issues, Muraskin and Roberts address the challenges that lie ahead in criminal justice with this collection of articles. Articles were selected based on the authors' expertise in discussing issues currently impacting the system and their vision for how these issues will be handled in the next century. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

"Thinking about crime and justice in the twenty-first century conjures up an enormously ambitious agenda: an agenda that ranges from the globalization of crime and justice, transnational crime, new technologies, new criminal threats and the continued applicability of old—in some cases—18th century solutions in attempting to combat 21st century problems."
— James O. Finckenauer, President, American Criminal Justice Society

Courts dispense justice. The crime challenges that face us in the 21st century appear to be more serious than they were in previous centuries. The dimensions of the crime scene have changed. This fourth edition of Visions For Change: Crime and Justice in the Twenty-First Century, consisting of 36 chapters (new and updated) is a representation of all changes reflective in this new century.

The law arena has had to adapt to the changes in this "new world" we live in relative to reducing the rights of our citizens to a certain extent. The review of all issues facing us since the acts of September 11, 2001 are examined with the most up-to-date research available.

"It would be great to believe that equality exists for all, but that is not yet the case in this Twenty-First century. This work blends research with creativity in an outstanding attempt to shape a vision for the future, a vision that moves us beyond the status quo. The rhetoric alone will not change the system; new policies and plans of action are needed to renew today's visions for tomorrow."
— Roslyn Muraskin, Long Island University

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Product Details

• Paperback: 702 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (April 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131776894
• ISBN-13: 978-0131776890
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not as textbook, but a liberal manifesto, August 21, 2004

By 

R. Keilholtz "SalukiJD" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Visions for Change: Crime and Justice in the 21st Century (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

As a Criminal Justice instructor who has reviewed this text (and almost had to use it) I cannot recommend this book. It portends to be a book about solutions, when in fact it essentially attacks every aspect of policing and the criminal justice system as it exists today, and the only solutions it provides are from the left to far left. There is no balance of opinion, no counter-point, and absolutely no effort on the part of the authors to inform students that they are in fact only getting one side of the issue. Far too often do I see this approach by liberal writers and educators: attempting to pass off their out of the mainstream ideas as fact. College is a marketplace of ideas, discussion, and debate. However, this book turns the debate into a one sided discussion on how awful and wholly without merit the current system is. I am not one as a CJ educator that believes we are to be cheerleaders for law enforcement. However, we do need to present the good with the bad, and this book would do nothing but discourage would-be law enforcement professionals. If the goal is to make such persons believe the profession they are about to enter into is completely corrupt and without merit, this is the "test" to use. If forced to use this book, I would suggest supplementing it with articles or texts that offer a counterpoint. That is, if you are interested in giving your students both sides of the issue - which I believe we as educators are charged to do, not just simply indoctrinate them with the opinions of those with whom you might agree. This book is nothing more than an attempt to indoctrinate, not foster intelligent debate and discussion on the topics contained therein. A candidate for zero stars, if that choice were available.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I agree with the above review, February 7, 2006

By 

S. Johnson "My2Cents" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Visions for Change: Crime and Justice in the 21st Century (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

The authors of this book are truely using this "text" as a platform to preach their ideals. The authors about how unfair the U.S. system is and how it is going to change to conform to their views (this will never happen)is sickening.

It is not a good "text" book and professors should never subject their students to this mess of a "learning tool."

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy reading, November 24, 2009

By 

Harriett Tubman "Anita" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visions for Change: Crime and Justice in the 21st Century (Paperback)

Although the book arrived 3 weeks into the class, I was able to complete my class assignments due to the easy reading of the text. The understandability, I believe, made my tasks easy to complete - THANK YOU Rosalyn