Guilty?: Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face of Justice

"An extraordinary book . . . that could well be mind-blowing to the thoughtful young reader who is ready to move beyond the black-and-white notion that a particular act is wrong simply because it is illegal." --Richie Partington

When does strategy become cheating? Can good luck be theft? Is killing always a crime? Real-world cases show there are often no clear-cut answers in this fascinating look at the ever-evolving world of law and order, and crime and punishment.

When some people kill, they are jailed or even executed. When others do, they are celebrated as heroes. Though this example is extreme, it’s just one of many that author and lawyer Teri Kanefield explores in depth. From an examination of what constitutes a crime, why and how we punish people who commit crimes, how the government determines these rules, to how citizens have reacted when they feel laws aren’t fair, this book will challenge young readers’ thinking about law and order, crime and punishment, while giving them specific legal cases to ponder along the way. For ages 12 and up, this examination of the legal system will also include historical photography to help bring each legal case to life.

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Guilty?: Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face of Justice

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544465565
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	11/04/2014
Sold by:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Teri Kanefield, an appellate lawyer and children's book writer, is the author of Rivka's Way and The Girl from the Tar Paper School. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications as diverse as Cricket Magazine, The Iowa Review, Education Week, and The American Literary Review.

Introduction ix

Part I Deciding What Behavior to Criminalize 1

Chapter 1 Crimes of Opportunity: Theft-or Good Luck? 3

Chapter 2 Another Kind of Bank Robbery 13

Chapter 3 Chearing? or Lucking into a Good Deal? 18

Chapter 4 Race: Changing Attitudes and Laws 25

Chapter 5 Deciding What Is a Danger to Society 41

Chapter 6 Killing Is a Crime, Except When It Isn't 47

Part II Punishment 57

Chapter 7 Retribution-"An Eye for an Eye" 61

Chapter 8 Deterrence, or a Warning to All 71

Chapter 9 The Conveyor Belt of Justice 84

Part III Due Process and the Presumption of Innocence 89

Chapter 10 Dolly Mapp and Unreasonable Searches 93

Chapter 11 The Right to Counsel 99

Chapter 12 Conveyor Belts and Obstacle Courses 106

Conclusion: Thinking Like a Lawyer 109

Glossary of Legal Terms 113

For Further Reading 117

Acknowledgments 118

Photo Credits 119

Notes 120

Bibliography 123

Index 131

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Editorial Reviews

"Kanefield not only allows readers to understand how notions of right and wrong change over time and across cultures, helping them begin to understand the complexities of crime and punishment, but she will probably leave them eager to find out more."
—Horn Book Magazine
"This short book is dense with examples and ideas and makes a complicated, somewhat daunting subject more accessible and interesting to a younger audience."
—Booklist

"An easy and informative read, gives basic information about the criminal justice system, and will appeal to those interested in the topic."
—VOYA

From the Publisher

This book discusses the history behind the law-and-order crime control model and the importance of due process. Criminal and civil cases, the appeals process, crime versus bad behavior, and how states deal with crime in differing ways are all included. There are sidebars, photographs, charts, and other interesting features, and discussion of actual cases illustrates the author’s various points. For example, is it a crime or unethical for a bank patron to keep a check knowing it is a mistake? The differences between criminal and civil law are presented and defined here. Throughout the book there are other actual cases, some of historical significance, such as Plessy vs. Ferguson and the laws pertaining to segregation, and the arrest and imprisonment of a Japanese American who wanted to fight in World War II rather than be sent to an internment camp. The book has a full glossary of legal terms, notes by the author, and a bibliography. It is an easy and informative read, gives basic information about the criminal justice system, and will appeal to those interested in the topic. Reviewer: Rachel Axelrod; Ages 11 to 15.

VOYA, December 2014 (Vol. 37, No. 5) - Rachel Axelrod

08/01/2014
Gr 5–8—This book takes a look at the evolution of the American justice system. Kanefield scrutinizes the judicial system by examining current and past crimes. The book opens by defining the word "criminalize" (as "an act that the law makes punishable") and goes on to argue that the American judicial system is flawed. The author offers both famous cases, such as Plessy v. Ferguson and more obscure ones, such as the example of a man accused of bank robbery for taking advantage of a teller's mistake and walking out of the bank with an extra $1,000. The writing is brisk and concise, getting right to the point, but there are few images or charts, which might turn off some younger readers who are used to heavily illustrated books. Though this title provides a solid example of how authors present and build arguments, students would be better served by learning to scrutinize the book for bias, as Kanefield only shows one side of the story, highlighting the flaws of the system without offering any constructive criticism for how to improve the situation.—Esther Keller, I.S. 278, Brooklyn, NY

School Library Journal

2014-09-14
Case studies form the nucleus of this introduction to the ever changing nature of crime and punishment in the United States. This slim volume seeks to introduce young readers to the various complexities of crime and punishment. An important aspect of these ideas is how society's views have changed over the years. By following the law school model and exploring actual cases, readers are able to ponder abstract ideas via concrete examples. One of the first cases involves a 12-year-old who knowingly purchased a valuable baseball card at much less than its market value. Was this theft or merely taking advantage of a clerk's error? Many of the examples are more consequential and show the far-reaching nature of criminal law. There are cases involving race, mental competence, the banking system, terrorism and more. This wide range is both a strength and weakness: Readers can get a sense of the law's pervasiveness, but it also means that each subject receives limited coverage. The author is clear that this book is designed to raise questions and encourage readers to delve further. The format does not add much to aid in engagement: Occasional photographs and sidebars do little to relieve the text. There is a helpful glossary, suggestions for further reading, source notes and a comprehensive bibliography. Given the paucity of books on the law for young readers, this fills a niche, but here's hoping a more engaging and vibrant replacement comes along soon. (photo credits, index not seen) (Nonfiction. 10-16)

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Guilty?: Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face of Justice

Guilty?: Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face of Justice

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