by Donald R. Liddick (2004)
"From the Russian mafia to Chinese Triads, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and Latin American drug cartels, the nature and incidence of transnational crime is a serious threat to American security, both at national and individual levels. America's porous borders make it relatively easy for criminal foreigners to establish their organizations within the United States. Moreover, there are well-established groups already present in the United States that are capable of operating on a multinational level." "Response to the problem has been overdue, yet recent efforts to address transnational crime include technological innovations and controversial legislation, such as the Patriot Act and the Home and Security Act. How well will these measures protect Americans from the increasing prevalence of criminal organizations capable of carrying out crimes that span the globe? This important book provides an engaging glimpse into the world of transnational crime through an introduction to the various groups involved, true stories of criminal misconduct, and a careful review and evaluation of efforts to address the problem."--Jacket.
David Garland
The United States and the United Kingdom have both become nations of stringent social control, from rapidly growing prison populations to ever increasing surveillance, curtailment of civil liberties, and restriction of the underclass. The Culture of control charts the evolution of this approach to law and order--politically, legally, and in terms of the average citizen's view of criminal "others" and their civil liberties.
Helen Sun
""Helen Sun details the meticulous methods used by the Chinese Communist Party to monitor China's Internet communication, particularly at Internet bars. At the same time, she also vividly describes the political energy and democratic discourse unleashed by the Internet, primarily among the younger generation. Internet Policy in China provides a vivid picture of momentous political and social changes under way in China today."--Merle Goldman, emerita, Boston University and research associate at Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University" ""A superb book that achieves its rich analysis of today's Chinese Internet cafes, politics, and policy by reaching deeply through state treatment of information, communication, and culture throughout its history. A necessary primer for understanding contemporary Chinese Internet developments."--Sandra Branan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee" "Internet Policy in China: A Field Study of Internet Cafes examines the forces that have nurtured and frustrated the creation of an e-public sphere in China. In conjunction with this examination. Helen Sun considers the broader issue of the Internet's true nature: is it inherently decentralizing and democratic, or is it all too dependent on the larger political environment? After describing the Chinese media policymaking and regulatory system, Sun undertakes a revealing study of the country's Internet cafes, enriched by interviews with cafe operators--both legal and illegal--and visitors. The insights provided in these interviews paint a fascinating picture of the ever-changing game of China's Internet censorship."--Jacket.
Deborah Halber
The Skeleton Crew provides an entree into the gritty and tumultuous world of Sherlock Holmes-wannabes who race to beat out law enforcement -- and one another -- at matching missing persons with unidentified remains. In America today, upwards of forty thousand people are dead and unaccounted for. These murder, suicide, and accident victims, separated from their names, are being adopted by the bizarre online world of amateur sleuths. It's DIY CSI by ordinary citizens equipped only with laptops and a knack for puzzles.
Edward L. Rubin
The fifteen criminologists, political scientists, and legal scholars who have contributed to this volume articulate a pragmatic crime policy for America that combines academic insights about crime prevention with the realities of contemporary politics. The studies collectively outline a coherent policy that centers on "minimizing harm," as opposed to retribution, eliminating crime, or solving the social problems that generate criminal behavior. Minimizing harm implies a compromise between the best current research and the concerns of citizens. It suggests that we can implement more effective strategies by choosing alternatives that reduce the level of victimization in a direct and readily comprehensible manner.