Crime and Justice – serie

Review of 1st edition"I found the whole account a model of clarity with a good blend of theory and practice which many authors would do well to note" Ted Wragg, TESThe First Years at School (2nd Edn) is a practical and reflective discussion of the education of 4 to 8 year olds based on a sympathetic recognition of the complexities of being an early years teacher. Angela Anning begins by reviewing the historical and ideological traditions of British infant and primary schools, tracing how we have reached the position where teachers feel themselves to be torn between child-centered and utilitarian demands in educating young children. She then provides a detailed and authoritative critique of recent thinking about the cognitive, social and emotional development of children, and explores the complexities of teachers' roles. She discusses the organization of the classroom, the structuring of learning in the school day and the content of the curriculum. She tackles the implications of the series of changes in the National Curriculum Orders and the national assessment systems for seven year olds and their impact on pre-fives and children with special educational needs. The second edition brings the debate about the post Dearing Key Stage One curriculum and its implications for pre-school education bang up to date. This will be vital reading for both student and practising teachers of young children.

"Although the topics dealt with are complex, the author has been very successful in presenting and exploring them clearly. Students may find particularly helpful the summary at the end of each chapter of the main points covered in that section.The Legal Executive

"...the real strength of this book lies in the critical thinking that arises from the juxtaposition of two very much unfinished debates: the question of how victims are treated by the justice system, and the practices and implications of restorative justice."...I feel this book is particularly important because it reframes a whole series of debates and practices which, otherwise, might be in danger of getting 'stuck'. That this is also undertaken by someone who is extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter and perceptive in relation to key issues is an added bonus."Vista

Two of the principal and most influential developments within criminal justice policy - taking in a variety of common law jurisdictions during the past thirty years - have been the rise of the ‘victim movement’ and the emergence of a distinctive set of practices that have become associated with the term ‘restorative justice’. Understanding Victims and Restorative Justice examines the origins of and the relationship between these two sets of developments, and seeks to assess their strengths and weaknesses in meeting the needs of victims as part of the overall response to crime.

Written in a lively and accessible style this book is of benefit to students from a range of disciplines including criminology, sociology and the law. Also helpful to professionals, practitioners and policymakers working in voluntary agencies within the criminal justice system.

"Bennett and Holloway's Understanding Drugs, Alcohol, and Crime isthe best, most up-to-date and comprehensive examination for theUnited Kingdom of interactions among drugs, alcohol, and crime. Theauthors exhaustively and authoritatively survey current knowledge inthe UK, and from many other countries, on drug and alcohol use ascause, and consequence, of crime, and the effects of law enforcementand treatment responses. Clearly written, unfailingly lucid, andadmirably accurate, this book will be the indispensable work onBritish drug policy for many years to come."Professor Michael Tonry, University of Minnesota Law School, USA

"What makes this book particularly interesting is the refreshingly non judgmental presentation which conveys the essence of very important issues in contemporary society. Therefore, this is an ideal text not only for students but also for policy makers, drugs and alcohol counsellors, treatment agencies and everyone interested in doing research on drugs, alcohol and crime." Nicoletta Policek, University of Abertay, Dundee

"The publication is not only an excellent summary of the existing research in Great Britain, and to a lesser extent from other jurisdictions, it is a foundation for future research by evoking , and at times provoking, questions and offering a variety of possible responses."Hirsch Greenberg, University of Regina

What is the connection between drugs, alcohol and crime? What works in reducing drugs and alcohol-related crime? The book provides a succinct overview of current theory and research on the links between drugs, alcohol use and crime. It discusses the legal and social context of drug and alcohol use and identifies current levels of consumption. Focusing on the UK context, it also takes into account international research where appropriate. Detailed review of the research literature on the connections between drug use and crimeExamines the current government anti-drugs policy and assesses the effectiveness of programmes that have been used to reduce drug and alcohol-related crime. The book concludes that future government drugs policy should pay particular attention to the lessons learned from research on the connection between drug and alcohol use and crime. Ideal for criminology, criminal justice, social policy and social work students, this book will also be a useful source of information for policy makers, the police, probation workers, social workers, drugs and alcohol counsellors, treatment agencies, sentencers, voluntary agencies, Drug Action Teams, and others with an interest in research on drugs and crime.

“Few people can talk about prisons with the authority and experience thatAndrew Coyle brings to his subject. A former prison governor, an academicauthor, an international activist and a practical reformer, Professor Coyleknows prisons inside and out, home and abroad, past and present. InUnderstanding Prisons he uses his impressive expertise to guide researchersthrough the changing world of the English prison. The result is an accessible,up-to-date, and highly informative book that will be welcomed by studentsand practitioners alike.”David Garland, NYU, author of The Culture of Control

“Andrew Coyle has drawn on his lifelong experience of governing prisons inScotland and England and, as the former Director of the International Centrefor Prison Studies, Kings College, London, studying prisons worldwide. Hehas written a comprehensive account of the use of imprisonment and thecharacter of prisons. He persuasively argues that our continued, extensiveuse of imprisonment cannot simply be explained or justified by the incidenceof crime and could otherwise. His book merits close attention.”Rod Morgan, Chairman, Youth Justice Board

There are over nine million men, women and children in prison around the world, and the number of people in prison in England and Wales has increased significantly in recent years. Yet in many respects prison remains the last secretive public institution in our society. Understanding Prisons provides a unique, in-depth examination of prisons – how they function, what they achieve, and their historical and political context. The book:

Describes how prisons developed into their present form Looks at who is sent to prison and what happens to them while they are thereExplains how the prison system and staff in England and Wales are organisedExamines how order and control is maintained and how high security prisons operateLooks at prisoners’ families and the wider communityOffers a future vision of the prison systemThis is essential reading for criminology and sociology students and researchers, criminal justice practitioners, the media and members of the public who are interested in learning more about the closed world of the prison.

How have different criminal justice agencies responded to the modernization process? What forms does modernization take? What lessons can be drawn to influence the future shape of criminal justice policy? Understanding Modernization in Criminal Justice is the first book to theorize modernization in the context of criminal justice. It provides a historically informed account tracing the evolving links between new public management and modernization as well as proposing a conceptual framework for understanding the impact of policies on each criminal justice agency in England and Wales. A variety of political strategies and tactics are identified, which contribute to the reform process. The extent of vulnerability, capacity for resistance or potential for transformation in each individual key agency is explored, including strategies of censure, compliance and commitment. The authors go on to analyse how these processes have occurred in an international context, in particular, the relationship between drivers of global crime and their impact in the context of England and Wales. This will challenge policy makers in all jurisdictions to consider the potential impact of new public management.The book concludes with a look ahead, anticipating developments in criminal justice sector after the departure of Tony Blair and potentially post a new Labour administration. Understanding Modernization in Criminal Justice is invaluable reading for those concerned with the administration of criminal justice at both a policy and managerial level; from students and academics wishing to understand the way agencies are responding to this agenda through to penal reformers and commentators.