A Suitable Amount of Crime

Regularly the media reminds us that while crime rates fall fear of crimeremains and prison populations soar. How can these apparent contradictions beso?Crime an... » 

Regularly the media reminds us that while crime rates fall fear of crimeremains and prison populations soar. How can these apparent contradictions beso?Crime and punishment are social and cultural manifestations they are closelybound up with peoples perceptions of morality norms and values. In this bookNils Christie argues that crime is a fluid and shallow concept acts thatcould be constructed as criminal are unlimited and crime is therefore inendless supply. It should not be forgotten that there are alternatives both inthe definition of crime and in responses to it.A Suitable Amount of Crime looks at the great variations between countries inwhat are considered unwanted acts how many are constructed as criminal andhow many are punished. It explains the differences between eastern and westernEurope between the United States and the rest of the world. The author lamentsthe size of prison populations in countries with large penal sectors and askswhether the international community has a moral obligation to shame statesthat are punitive in the extreme.The book is written in an engaging and easily accessible style and will appealto anyone interested in understanding contemporary problems of crime andpunishment. «