Latinos and Criminal Justice

June 1, 2016

According to Morin (Latin American & Latina/o studies, John Jay Coll. of Criminal Justice), accurate and readily available information is wanting in reference to the American criminal justice system and Latinas/Latinos, whom he defines as persons in the United States tracing their ancestry back to a country in Latin America. He presents current research from 31 legal specialists and criminal justice scholars, who attempt to do away with misperceptions about Latinas/Latinos and criminal justice in America to expose a broader audience to the topic and to create a quick reference for readers seeking to identify areas for further research. The encyclopedia is divided into two parts. Part 1 consists of nine essays from ten to 31 pages in length that explore historical and social contexts of the Latina/Latino experience. Charts, graphs, excerpts of official reports and acts, extended lists of further reading, and cross-references to related topics enhance the content. Part 2 is an alphabetical listing of short entries ranging in length from a few lines to several pages. Contributors do not attempt to address every conceivable issue of the subject, choosing to concentrate on those that seem to most directly affect Latinas/Latinos. Moreover, they focus on the largest groups of this demographic for which data is available. This compelling, concisely written, and informative overview of this extremely important subject dispels many inconsistencies and myths. VERDICT An excellent resource for all readers and researchers.--Rob Tench, Old Dominion Univ. Lib., Norfolk, VA

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2016
The expertly written entries of this volume are divided into two distinct sections. Part 1 includes essays on Latinos and criminal justice by a variety of different authors and perspectives. These include topics such as Policing and Latina/o Communities, Crime and the U.S. Mexican Border, and Incarcerations and Latinas/os in the United States. Part 2 contains AZ entries such as Civil rights, Cultural criminology, Civilian oversight of police, Deportation, and Political activist groups. There are also entries for specific ethnic groups, critical court cases related to crime and criminal justice, and a guide to related topics for further research. Finally, there are biographies and information about contributors and a complete index. The information presented is both current and historical. This is a thoroughly researched, informative, and all-inclusive reference source for researchers looking for information in this area. It is recommended for most public libraries and will be a particularly important addition to academic libraries, especially those institutions with criminal-justice programs and courses.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)