Class, Race, Gender, and Crime - 5th Edition by Gregg Barak & Paul Leighton & Allison Cotton (Paperback)

About the Book

Class, Race, Gender, and Crime is an introduction to crime and the criminal justice system through the lens of class, race, gender, and their intersections. The book explores how power and privilege shape our understanding of crime and justice. The fifth edition features new m...

Book Synopsis

Class, Race, Gender, and Crime is an introduction to crime and the criminal justice system through the lens of class, race, gender, and their intersections. The book explores how power and privilege shape our understanding of crime and justice. The fifth edition features new material on police violence and Black Lives Matter, disability, and more.

Review Quotes

A hallmark of a great textbook is the ability to make students think in a critical and discriminating manner. This edition of Class, Race, Gender, and Crime is the epitome of a great text for not only students of criminal justice or criminology but all who are interested in the 'justness' of the criminal justice system. This revised and updated version has again systematically outlined the core issues and the complexity of class, race, and gender--and the importance of the interrelatedness of these concepts. The objectiveness of the text works to transform readers into critical consumers of knowledge. That is instrumental in higher learning, and this text has captured that critical objective. This edition has propelled this book to rank as one of the best texts written on the issue of class, race, gender, and crime in the fields of criminal justice, criminology, and justice studies.

Barak, Leighton, and Cotton give us a much-needed lesson about the actual realities of social control in the United States--masterfully delineating the simultaneous interactions of historical, legal, economic, social, political, and ideological forces defining, shaping, and governing criminal justice policy, enforcement, and discourse over time. The authors skillfully reveal the troubling realities of justice in America, with an astute view of those who live in the margins of society--oppressed and silenced--skewed or untold stories that need to be exposed. In today's highly charged political atmosphere, Class, Race, Gender, and Crime provides readers a first-class education!

The authors have revised and updated their excellent critical exploration of the impact of class, race, and gender on criminal justice practice in the United States. As with the earlier editions, written in clear, lively, jargon-free language, the book is an excellent text for students of criminal justice or criminology at all levels. No one can read this text without realizing the depth and complexity of the problems that face those who would make our criminal justice system truly a system of justice.

The authors once again demonstrate how class, race, gender, and crime--four explosive topics we're reluctant to talk about publicly--are interrelated and, more important, how these issues effect each and every one of us. For the authors, 'class' is not shorthand for the poor but includes the middle and upper class; 'gender' is not shorthand for women but includes men; 'race' is not shorthand for minorities but includes whites; and 'crime' is not shorthand for street crime but includes the crimes of the rich and powerful. Enlightening, sobering, and ultimately essential reading. This is admirable work.

The fifth edition of Class, Race, Gender, and Crime is, as in previous editions, a well-articulated discussion of the structural inequalities found throughout American society and reinforced through criminal justice system practices. However, this edition in particular is a timely addition to discussions of inequities within our society. The authors shine a harsh light on the nature, origin, and malignancy of long-standing and entrenched disparities that continue to marginalize, disadvantage, and disenfranchise the most vulnerable of American citizens. In doing so, the authors call immediate attention to the inherent and often untapped potential of the criminal justice system to embody and perpetuate the ideals of justice and equality.

About the Author

Gregg Barak is professor of criminology and criminal justice at Eastern Michigan University. He is the author of a number of books, including most recently his award winning book, Unchecked Corporate Power.

Paul Leighton is professor of criminology and criminal justice at Eastern Michigan University. He is author or co-author of several books, including Punishment for Sale and The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison.

Allison Cotton is professor of criminology and criminal justice at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is author of the book Effigy.