Sense and Nonsense About Crime and Drugs: A Policy Guide | 
 enlarge | Author: Samuel Walker
Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $71.95
Buy Used: $40.00
You Save: $31.95 (44%)
New (19) from $60.10
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 11829
Media: Paperback
Edition: 6
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 0534616542
Dewey Decimal Number: 364.404560973
EAN: 9780534616540
ASIN: 0534616542
Publication Date: August 17, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Walker's SENSE AND NONSENSE was the first book to challenge common misconceptions about crime and remains the most effective at doing so. Described as a "masterful critique" of American policies on everything from crime control to guns to drugs Walker cuts through myths and political rhetoric and confronts both conservative and liberal propositions relative to current research and proven effectiveness. The result is a research-based, lucid work that stimulates critical thinking and enlivens class discussions. Walker captures the complexity of the administration of justice while providing students with a clear sense of the general patterns.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Dense but excellent overview... March 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a professor who has used this book in my Crime class. The book is excellent in that it organizes policies around conservative and liberal viewpoints. It then brings in the latest research to either support or debunk the viewpoints of conservatives and liberals. The book is very dense and does an excellent job of addressing current crime policies. The focus is ultimately, what works and what doesn't regarding crime policies. The last chapter summarizes what does work. I like the book because it appeals to all students regardless of their political beliefs because Walker shows how BOTH conservatives and liberals are wrong in how they attempt to "fix" the crime problem. The biggest weakness of this book is that it is light on the theory but again, this book is about policies, not theory.
In regards to a previous reviewer, professors preview books before they use them, so if their professor did not like this book, they probably should never have used it in the first place. I suspect that the professor did not take the time to preview the book and hoped that it would fit their plans for the class. It appears that in this case, the professor wanted a book with theory and was disappointed when there was none. That is not a fault with this book, but with the professor.
 A very poorly written book October 3, 2007
1 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book just makes educated guesses and opinions, there are very few facts. The author contradicts himself every other page, especially in the very first chapter. All Walker does throughout the whole book is complain about policies, he never once has a solution. The only good that can come from this book is learning how not to write.
Not Recommended August 4, 2007
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
I used this book for my Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice book along with his Color of Justice book. The whole class and even my teacher agreed that these books sucked and were not the best ones to use. I did not gain anything from reading these books and I would NOT recommend them to anyone to use. It was a waste of my money to use these books and my teacher was also disappointed in them. He may be an excellent professor at UNO, but this book and the Color of Justice book are horrible to use, especially for a Contemporary Issues class.
 quick delivery September 25, 2005
0 out of 8 found this review helpful
My order was processed and sent very quickly. Arriving just in time for the new semester. The book was in great condition with no highlighting. Thanks for the great service.
Very good for critical thinkers January 10, 2003
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
This book is highly recommended for anyone who wants to take a critical look at the administration of justice in the U.S. Dr. Walker has a very simple, straightforward style of writing that makes this book accessible to virtually anyone, even someone with limited background in the area. His information is very up-to-date and his arguments are clear, concise and well-supported.
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