“An ideal book for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in Criminology, Social Problems, and Public Policy. . . . For researchers, this book offers an expansion of institutional constructionism and a roadmap for further research on criminal justice policy.” —Sarah Britto, Criminal Justice Review“A thought-provoking look at social control through criminal justice in the US.” —Choice"A compelling book.... The authors capture the shifting trajectories of social control that are institutionally mobilized in response to a broad range of social problems." —Peter R. Ibarra, University of Illinois Chicago

Today's headlines are rife with reports of hate crimes, domestic terrorism, drug abuse, police malfeasance, and many other profound social problems. Equally, there are discussions, often contentious, about how best to respond to the issues raised. Stacy Burns and Mark Peyrot explore government efforts to address social problems in the context of the criminal justice system.

Adopting an institutionalist perspective, the authors show how social control efforts have adapted and changed over time—and how some efforts have inadvertently contributed to the problems they are trying to alleviate. Their work draws on a wealth of sources, ranging from case law to popular initiatives to policy analysis, to advance both theoretical and practical understanding of criminal justice at work.