Crime, Policing and Punishment in England, 1660-1914 - Hardcover

[Gray] has written an admirable textbook drawing on his own experience in different archives and combining this with an excellent ability to condense the published material and to make shrewd judgments ... This will prove to be a valuable text, especially given the accompanying website materials. * Journal of Modern History * A well-written, accessible book, providing an excellent introduction to the field of the history of crime and punishment. * Law, Crime and History * Gray's book makes an immensely valuable contribution to the history of crime, not least since he brings it to life as the vibrant field that it is, characterized not only by dramatic tales from the archives, but also by conceptual nuance, empirical detail, and methodological dispute ... Drew Gray has certainly set a standard that subsequent work will be hard pressed to match. * Journal of British Studies * In the last 40 years or so, the field of criminal justice history has expanded greatly through multiple disciplines, the subject generally comprising crime, legal and judicial procedures, police, and punishment. Researchers today can benefit from the fact that many sources are online. Even the most diligent of scholars can hardly keep up with recent publications; for this reason, comprehensive books are especially welcome. Gray (history of crime, Univ. of Northampton, UK) has done an admirable job covering the development of the modern criminal justice system in England. He begins with crime in its various manifestations: crime numbers, media and crime, gender considerations, juvenile crime, changing attitudes toward violence, and much more. In the second part of the book, he supplies a chronological account of the evolution of the judicial system, policing, and changing modes of punishment. At every stage, the author mentions specific historians and schools of interpretation, from Whig history to history from below and more, while always demonstrating that a solid understanding of the historical context is crucial. The book is enlightening, well documented, and clearly written. It should be in all libraries of higher education. Summing Up: Essential. All academic levels/libraries. * CHOICE * A valuable account of developments over the period. * Police History Society * Drew Gray's survey of the history of crime and punishment in England from c. 1660 - 1914 provides an excellent overview of the current state of play in this fast growing area of historical research. Whilst the book is aimed primarily at undergraduates, it has much to offer for students more broadly interested in social history as well as those from cognate disciplines such as criminology and the social sciences. The book is presented in two sections, the first dealing with central themes in the historiography (ranging across historical media, gender, violence, property crime, juvenile offending and penality); the second providing an overview of the criminal justice system, guiding the reader step by step through the stages of the evolving criminal justice system. I think Gray does this very well. His approach is extremely clear and accessible without losing the attention to detail and grasp of argument and approach that a really good survey demands. I have no doubt that this book will become essential reading for students of crime history. * Heather Shore, Reader in History, Leeds Beckett University * Drew Gray is one of the most creative and productive members of the newest generation of criminal justice historians in Britain. That creativity and energy are on full display in this uniquely ambitious, detailed and wide-ranging survey of the now vast literature on the history of crime and official responses to it in England. Every scholar will find something to engage with in this book, and every teacher will find it an excellent introduction to the subject for their students. * Simon Devereaux, University of Victoria, Canada * Drew Gray has provided a much needed new survey of the rapidly evolving field of English criminal justice history. He offers a balanced and nuanced reading of the older debates that launched the subject forty years ago, and he charts promising paths for future research. His book is particularly strong on topics that other texts have neglected -- juvenile crime, the role of magistrates in summary justice, mundane criminality. He displays impressive mastery of the secondary literature even as he builds upon his own deep understanding of justice in the period. His book will provide a valuable introduction to students new to the subject and a useful overview to scholars who work in this area. * Randall McGowen, University of Oregon *

Crime, Policing and Punishment in England, 1660-1914 offers an overview of the changing nature of crime and its punishment from the Restoration to World War 1. It charts how prosecution and punishment have changed from the early modern to the modern period and reflects on how the changing nature of English society has affected these processes. By combining extensive primary material alongside a thorough analysis of historiography this text offers an invaluable resource to students and academics alike.

The book is arranged in two sections: the first looks at the evolution and development of the criminal justice system and the emergence of the legal profession, and examines the media's relationship with crime. Section two examines key themes in the history of crime, covering the emergence of professional policing, the move from physical punishment to incarceration and the importance of gender and youth. Finally, the book draws together these themes and considers how the Criminal Justice System has developed to suit the changing nature of the British state.