"A fact about crime and criminal justice for every week of the year - crucial when so many get their information from non-expert sources." Nic Groombridge, University of South Wales

"A highly informative approach to the study of crime and punishment presented in a concise, lively and innovative manner….an extremely useful learning resource for criminology students." Peter Joyce, Glyndwr University

"This book invites us to reflect on just how inadequately crime and punishment are explained if we fall into the trap of being seduced by dominant narratives. The wonderful criticality here serves as a superb resource for students and scholars, but also for a much wider audience of people fascinated by the subject of crime and society." Paul Taylor, University of Chester

Dr Adam G T Lynes, is a Lecturer in Criminology, at Birmingham City University, where he has taught since 2012, covering topics from criminological theory to organised and violent crime. He has published research focusing on violent crimes from serial murder to family annihilation, and recently was a co-author on a new text book.

Dr James Treadwell is Professor of Criminology at Staffordshire University and has also worked at the University of Birmingham, and University of Leicester. Previously he worked for the crime reduction charity NACRO, and as a Probation Officer in the West Midlands. He undertakes ethnographic and qualitative research for crime and criminal justice related projects, including studies of the English Defence League, and the August 2011 English Riots.

1. Historical context;

2. Crime in Britain today;

3. International comparisons;

4. The police;

5. Prison realities;

6. Criminal justice;

7. Black market Britain;

8. Violent Britain;

9. Victims;

10. Crime and technology.