This study provides a comprehensive critique - forensic, historical, and theoretical - of the moral panic paradigm, using empirically grounded ethnographic research to argue that the panic paradigm suffers from fundamental flaws that make it a myth rather than a viable academic perspective.

The author discusses the intersect of biopolitics and moral panic in Canada. Biopolitics is defined as political action resulting from self-identification through groups defined by categories like race or sex. Moral panics, often about sex on the surface, are seen as a fearful reaction to shifting or collapsing boundaries in cherished cultural meanings, values and institutions. The events used to illustrate this interaction revolve around two themes -- feminist politics and the incidence of violence against women, and the impact of gender and 'political correctness' on university campuses. The first part of the book examines criminal justice issues such as: the reliability of statistics date rape; the work of, and the reaction to, "Changing the landscape", the final report of the Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women (Canpan), and the Women's Safety Project.

CSA Sociological Abstracts abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 1,800+ serials publications, and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers.

The idea, and the myth of Aboriginal privilege. Examines the role of the media, particularly news reporting and talk back radio-in the creation of the idea. As a result, a march of 30,000 people on Parliament achieved the harshest penalties for juvenile crime in the country.

The Myth of Prison Rape provides a nuanced glimpse into the complex sexual dynamics of the American prison. Drawing on results from the most comprehensive study of inmate sexuality to date, the authors analyze the intricacies of sexuality and sexual violence in daily inmate life. Dynamic case studies and interview excerpts enliven this cultural study of sexuality, safety, and violence in American prisons.

Created as an alternative to the punishment-oriented criminal justice system, the juvenile court is a unique American invention that has been replicated around the world. But to say that this system is without significant flaws would be misleading. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the juvenile justice system is a vital step towards improving counseling and rehabilitation programs. Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Delinquency: A Comprehensive Framework presents the latest research and most effective programs for understanding, preventing, and controlling juvenile delinquency. Renowned specialist in the field James C. Howell examines key myths about juvenile violence and the ability of the juvenile justice system to handle modern-day juvenile delinquents. Reviewing the history of current juvenile justice system policies and practices, Howell provides a comprehensive framework for analyzing and responding to juvenile crime. Geared toward preparing students for a career in juvenile justice or social services, this accessible volume includes Chapter introductions and summaries that link research studies to intervention programs Boxed studies, data sources, key definitions, and concepts Extensive real-world case studies and illustrations Comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art research and programs Developmental theories of juvenile delinquency Advanced juvenile justice system management tools Effective prevention and rehabilitation programs Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Delinquency explores the world of chronic, violent juvenile offenders and gang involvement. Evaluating the current "moral panic" over juvenile delinquency, the author offers an effective program delivery system that empowers individual practitioners and communities. Intended as a supplementary text for undergraduate and graduate courses in juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, and violent offender intervention courses, Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Delinquency is also essential reading for juvenile justice and social services research and development specialists.

"Juvenile Justice is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate students studying juvenile justice in Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Sociology. The book is also an excellent supplemental text for juvenile delinquency courses."--BOOK JACKET.

In the public imagination Satanism is associated with bizarre rituals, perverse hedonistic lifestyles, heavy metal music, immature adolescents acting out, horror movies, and rumors of ritual abuse. But what are the facts behind the urban legends and the "moral panics" that periodically sweep the country regarding this countercultural phenomenon? This authoritative reference work gathers together scholarly studies of Satanism and original source material, focusing on two major aspects--organized religious Satanism and the Satanic Ritual Abuse hoax that was prevalent in the 1980s and early 1990s. The contributors first examine modern Satanism, a decentralized movement whose only coherence is based on certain themes that date back to the writings of Anton Szandor LaVey, especially his Satanic Bible. Among other factors, the authors discuss how the emergence of the Internet as a form of communication has created some coherence among disparate groups through cross-reference. Many articles are devoted to the Satanic Ritual Abuse scare, an erroneous belief in a vast underground network of Satanists who were abusing children. For years members of the law enforcement community and numerous therapists, encouraged by the hype of mass media, bought into this panic. Other topics include the role of the media in the perceptions of Satanism and Satanic Ritual Abuse, juvenile delinquency and Satanism, and police pursuit of satanic crime. The volume concludes with primary source material, including a report from the Ritual Abuse Task Force and selections from current Satanism groups. This objective reference work will be useful for professionals in many fields and members of the public interested in sorting out the facts from the myths surrounding this controversial subculture.