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Crimes and Trials of the Century [Two Volumes]
Steven Chermak, Frankie Y. Bailey, ed.
ISBN: 0-313-34109-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-313-34109-0
752 pages
Greenwood Press
Publication: 10/30/2007
List Price: $199.95 (UK Sterling Price: £137.95)
Availability: In Stock
Media Type: Hardcover
Trim Size: 7 x 10
Subjects: Reviews:
  • This text is strongly suggested for higher-education institutions that have criminal-justice programs. Public libraries and high-school media centers will also find it of use for its easy-to-read descriptions of often sensational events.
    —Booklist     July 2008
  • [T]his set looks closely at 35 particularly newsworthy American crimes....providing considerable detail on key moments along with thought-provoking discussion about their significance. Most entries are chronological, adding historical background as needed and avoiding sensationalizing the drama and suspense, which emerge effectively through the factual narratives. Clear distinctions between evidence, speculation, and consensus opinions provide fairly balanced views throughout....Clear writing, strong organization, and involving subject matter make this a strong resource.
    —School Library Journal     April 2008
  • Crimes and Trials of the Century offers an excellent starting point for those interested in crime history and the media. It is recommended for both public and private libraries and would serve as a nice supplement for a variety of criminal justice, criminology, and sociology courses.
    —American Reference Books Annual     2008
  • Appropriate for high school students and above as well as for general readers, this two-volume reference, in a thoughtful, non-sensational manner, presents criminal cases of the past 100 years that have caught the attention of the public for various reasons. Arranged chronologically, the first volume covers the Black Box Scandal of 1920 through the Attica Prison riots of 1971; the second, from Pine Ridge trials in the mid-1970s to Abu Ghraib in the early years of the 21st century. The cases are described in detail with a substantial amount of material illuminating the individuals involved, the social and historical contexts, legal issues, and outcomes. In addition, editors Chermak (criminal justice, Michigan State U.) and Bailey (criminal justice, U. at Albany SUNY) provide a contextual introduction to each of the two volumes. A bibliography and thorough indexing conclude the second volume.
    —SciTech Book News     February 2008
  • The scholary essays of this guide explore the details of each crime, the legal issues involved, the course of litigation and appeals. The analysis assesses the impact of the media on the case as well as change in laws, criminal justice procedures, and the attitudes of society at large....This excellent survey will provide students of criminal justice, communication, political science and cultural history with a provocative introduction to key issues in criminal prosecution in the United States.
    —Lawrence Looks at Books     January 2008
  • This set certainly provides fascinating reading to laypersons interested in the topic. It would also be useful for assignments; the reading level is appropriate for high school readers and above. Recommended for public libraries or community colleges supporting sociology or criminology programs.
    —Library Journal     4/1/2008
Description: What do O. J. Simpson, the Lindbergh baby, and Gary Gilmore have in common? They were all the focus of famous crimes and/or trials in the United States. In this two-volume set, historical and contemporary cases that not only shocked the nation but that also became a part of the popular and legal culture of the United States are discussed in vivid, and sometimes shocking, detail. Each chapter focuses on a different crime or trial and explores the ways in which each became famous in its own time. The fascinating cast of characters, the outrageous crimes, the involvement of the media, the actions of the police, and the trials that often surprised combine to offer here one of the most comprehensive sets of books available on the subject of famous U.S. crimes and trials.

The public seems fascinated by crime. News and popular media sources provide a steady diet of stories, footage, and photographs about the misfortunes of others in order to satisfy this appetite. Murder, rape, terrorism, gang-related activities, and other violent crimes are staples. Various crime events are presented in the news every day, but most of what is covered is quickly forgotten. In contrast, some crimes left a lasting impression on the American psyche. Some examples include the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the bombing of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City, and the September 11th attacks. These events, and other significant cases, are immediately or on reflection talked about as crimes of the century. They earn this title not only because they generate enormous publicity, but because of their impact on American culture: they help define historical eras, influence public opinion about crime, change legal process, and focus concern about important social issues. They seep into many other shared aspects of social life: public conversation, fiction and nonfiction, songs, poems, films, and folk tales.

This set focuses on the many crimes of the century of the last 100 years. In vivid detail, each crime is laid out, the investigation is discussed, the media reaction is described, the trial (if there was one) is narrated, the resolution is explored, and the significance of the case in terms of its social, political, popular, and legal relevance is examined. Illustrations and sidebars are scattered throughout to enliven the text; print and electronic resources for further reading and research are offered for those wishing to dig deeper. Cases include the Scopes Monkey trial, Ted Bundy, Timothy McVeigh, O.J. Simpson, Leopold and Loeb, Fatty Arbuckle, Al Capone, JonBenet Ramsey, the Lacy Peterson murder, Abu Ghraib, Columbine and more.
About the Author: STEVEN CHERMAK is Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. He is the author of Victims in the News: Crime and the American News Media and Searching for a Demon: The Media Construction of the Militia Movement and was co-editor of Media Representations of September 11th and Famous American Crimes and Trials.

FRANKIE Y. BAILEY is Professor of Criminology at SUNY Albany. She is the author of Out of the Woodpile: Black Characters in Crime and Detective Fiction (Greenwood Press, 1991), which was nominated for the Mystery Writers of America 1992 Edgar Award for Criticism and Biography. She has edited, with Donna C. Hale, Popular Culture, Crime, and Justice. She is also co-author of Law Never Here: A Social History of African American Responses to Issues of Crime and Justice (Praeger, 1999), and co-editor of Famous American Crimes and Trials (Praeger, 2004) and Media Representations of September 11th.
PDF Catalogs:
Praeger Crime Catalog 2008.pdf
Pop Culture Spring 2008.pdf
Greenwood Spring Reference 2008.pdf
Greenwood School and Public Library Reference Spring 2008.pdf
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