Crimes That Changed Our World

June 1, 2018
Law scholar Paul and writer and researcher Sarah Robinson examine a series of major crimes of different forms from the early twentieth century to the present which sparked outrage and brought about social reforms. Each chapter focuses on such catastrophes and criminal acts as the Triangle Shirtwaist fire of 1911, the murder of Kitty Genovese, drunk-driving fatalities, Cosa Nostra activities, 9/11, and the Enron scandal and analyzes their significance for the criminal-justice system. These useful case studies form an excellent survey of government reforms, going beyond the sensationalized events and even beyond the initial resulting reforms to raise questions about how change occurs in America. The text's structure brings order to the chaotic unfolding of human events, even as the Robinsons consider how crimes often defy generalization. Readers interested in American history, law, political science, social movements, and psychology will find this book useful, as will aficionados of the true-crime genre. Crimes That Changed Our World is an ambitious cataloging of the many ways crime has shaped America.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)