NCJ Number
227082
Date Published
2008
Length
251 pages
Annotation
This book provides an introduction to the study of environmental issues pertinent to the study of environmental crime, contemporary environmental law, environmental policy, and environmental justice; illustrates the serious nature of these problems; and demonstrates how individuals should become involved in studying environmental crime, law, and justice.
Abstract
Environmental harms associated with pollution of the air, land, and water kill and injure more people than street crime on an annual and daily basis. Financially, the losses associated with environmental damage are enormous. However, environmental crime issues are continually overshadowed by the drama of conventional crime. Today, the world is enveloped by environmental harm and crime. It is disheartening that the discipline devoted to the study of crime and harm, law, and justice, to ameliorate crime and injustice, has been seen has ignoring these offenses and their perpetrators, the law and systems of justice that apply to them, and the immeasurable human nonhuman costs and victims of these activities. The writing of this book is an effort to address and help rectify or change this current situation. Divided into 10 chapters, the goal is to expose criminologists, more importantly the next generation of criminologists, to the variety of issues involved in the study of environmental law, crime, and justice; to illustrate the seriousness of these problems and demonstrate how criminologists should become involved in the study of environmental crime, law, and justice. Future courses of action with regard to the environment involve input from a variety of interests, including individuals concerned about environmental degradation, profits, health and well-being, political reputation, and other competing interests. The overriding challenge is to find a course of action that suits all interests, or a course that is important to all. Tables, figures, images, references, and index