Communities, Identities and Crime

Equality and diversity issues feature significantly in the policies and practices of all criminal justice agencies. "Communities, Identities and Crime" provides a critical and refreshing perspective on the most significant developments.Key areas featured in the book include a critical focus upon: 'Race' relations legislation, 'race' equality and criminal justice, particularly in the aftermath of the Macpherson; Inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence; Gender, crime and victimisation, including criminal justice responses to sexual and domestic violence; The increasing role that faith communities play in community justice, particularly in a post-September 11th 2001 context; Hate crimes committed against individuals, motivated by prejudice towards the 'race'/ethnic, religious, lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual (and other) communities that they are perceived to belong to; and Community engagement and community participation in criminal justice, community cohesion and civil renewal.The book also includes a broader theoretical focus, exploring key notions in relation to identity theory and late modernity, highlighting social, cultural and economic processes that impact upon identity constructions, communities and belongingness. The book also raises important theoretical and methodological issues that a focus upon social identities poses for the subject discipline of Criminology. Clearly written in an engaging style, the book is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of criminology, criminal justice, social policy, sociology, victimology and law. Criminal justice practitioners will also find the book informative and researchers will value its theoretical and policy focus.