A Philosophy of the Social Construction of Crime

While the general public is only beginning to grasp it, the fact that the social definition of individuals and groups plays a major role in how they are addressed by law enforcement has become common knowledge among scholars. This book sets that understanding for the first time in a philosophical context, showing how we can use phenomenology to help us understand how and why police make decisions about legitimacy and illegality based on social constructions. Written by an internationally known specialist in the intersection of criminology and philosophy, the book will be essential reading for scholars and students in both fields and for those working with social policy as well.