Expansive in its coverage, the handbook presents material on crime and punishment trends and on timely policy issues. The latest research on the demography of crime is included. Weighty current problems, such as organized crime, white collar crime, family violence, sex offenders, youth gangs, and drug control, are examined. Processes and institutions that deal with accused and convicted criminals and punishment techniques are also investigated. While some articles emphasize American research findings and developments, other articles incorporate international research and offer a comparative perspective from other English-speaking countries and Western Europe. The 27 chapters of the handbook are organized according to the following parts: (1) context of crime and criminal justice; (2) topical crime problems; (3) crime causes--individual differences and economic conditions; (4) crime reduction--restorative justice, deterrence and incapacitation, crime prevention, and sex offender treatment; (5) preconviction processes and institutions--police, prosecution, and jails; (6) postconviction processes and institutions--juvenile courts, sentencing, probation and parole, and prisons; and (7) punishment--penal theories, intermediate sanctions, correctional treatment, and capital punishment. References, tables, and figures