The Politics of Law and Order: Street Crime and Public Policy

How crime and public fear are socially constructed...and not just a fixed reality to perceive. Politicians and others use public anxiety for their purposes, and pursue a stern law-and-order platform even as crime rates are dropping. The public, and media coverage and TV images, often exaggerate crime and the likelihood of victimization. This is the foundational and supported study of the issue, often cited and used in later scholarship on crime and politics, from a legendary scholar in the field…