In 'The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America', Barry Latzer delivers a riveting exploration of the complexities surrounding crime rates over the decades. Through a blend of historical data and compelling anecdotes, he unveils the sociopolitical factors that have influenced the ebb and flow of violence in American society. Latzer challenges popular narratives, making a case for understanding crime through a multifaceted lens. As he examines the peaks of violence and the subsequent decline, readers are left questioning what really drives human behavior. Will his insights change how we perceive safety in our communities?
By Barry Latzer
Published: 2017
""Understanding the patterns of violent crime in America is not just about statistics; it's a journey into the heart of society, revealing the undercurrents of fear, power, and the relentless quest for safety.""
"Starting in the late 1960s, the United States suffered the biggest rise in violent crime in its history. Aside from the movement for black civil rights, it is difficult to think of a phenomenon that had a more profound effect on American life in the last third of the 20th century. Fear of murder, rape, robbery and assault influenced decisions on where to live and where to school one's children, how to commute to work and where to spend one's leisure time. In some locales, people dreaded leaving their homes at any time, day or night, and many Americans spent part of each day literally looking over their shoulders. [This books is a] synthesis of criminology and social history that...explains how and why violent crime exploded across the United States in the late 60s--and what ultimately drove it down decades later. It is the first book of its kind to analyze criminal violence in the U.S. from World War II to the 21st century. It examines crime in the context of all of the major social trends since the World War, including the postwar economic boom and suburbanization, the Baby Boom and the turmoil of the 60s, the urbanization of minorities, the advent of crack cocaine, the hardening of the criminal justice system and current efforts to contract it."--
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“"Understanding the patterns of violent crime in America is not just about statistics; it's a journey into the heart of society, revealing the undercurrents of fear, power, and the relentless quest for safety."”
The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
By Barry Latzer
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Barry Latzer is a distinguished author and criminologist, known for his comprehensive works in the field of criminal justice and public policy. His notable works include ‘The Rise of the Violent Criminal,’ and ‘The Myth of Overpunishment,’ where he challenges prevalent notions about crime and punishment in contemporary society. Latzer's writing style is analytical and engaging, blending rigorous research with accessible prose to invite readers into complex discussions surrounding crime trends and justice reform. With a focus on empirical evidence and keen insights, he has earned recognition for his contributions to legal scholarship and public discourse.
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