How does politics shape US government policies to control crime? How does the criminal justice system affect the activities of political actors? This lively text provides an overview of crime as a political issue and the impact of politics on US policymaking in the field of criminal justice. Recent policy responses to internet-related crimes are used as real-world examples of the political processes discussed in each chapter. Professor Marion has done a masterful job of presenting the confluence of political science and criminal justice in a short and highly informative work. Her book is truly deserving of its title as the definitive primer on the subject. --Willard M. Oliver, Sam Houston State University Nancy E. Marion is professor of political science at the University of Akron. Used Book in Good Condition