February 2005 Calendar of Books on True Crime and Justice

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KariSable.com True Crime Books

A Voice for the Dead: A Forensic Investigator's Pursuit of the Truth in the Grave James Starrs
In the midst of his distinguished law school career, James Starrs made an extraordinary leap into the politically fraught, physically arduous business of actually exhuming bodies to solve cold cases that have defied answers for years. Helped by cutting-edge technology as well as the forensic science he had been teaching for decades, he has made important discoveries. Starrs's passionate intention is to set the record straight, to right the wrongs done by tall tales and cover-ups, by even the most cherished historical legends. Among the high-profile cases he writes about are Jesse James-are the remains buried in his purported grave really Jesse's? Mary Sullivan-was she, as supposed, a victim of Albert DeSalvo, who confessed, perhaps falsely, to being the Boston Strangler? And the Cold War government scientist who fell to his death from a high floor of a New York hotel-did he jump or was he pushed?

Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder James Alan Fox and Jack Levin provides a comprehensive, fascinating overview of multiple homicide, including both serial and mass murder. Adopting a unified conceptual framework for understanding these divergent forms of extreme killing, this book illustrates the many violent expressions of power, revenge, terror, greed, and loyalty using contemporary and classic case studies in multiple murder. Fox and Levin examine the theories of criminal behavior and apply them to a multitude of cases from around the world. The authors draw upon research from serial killers and those who have committed massacres. The book presents the many commonalities among multiple murders and also focuses on the varieties of serial and mass killing. The authors address the characteristics of both killers and their victims, and, in their concluding chapter, discuss the special concerns of multiple murder victims and their survivors. Includes many photos of offenders and crime scenes. Extreme Killing is a fascinating introduction to an extreme set of homicidal behaviors for any interested reader. It could also be used as a supplementary textbook for undergraduate and graduate students studying homicide, serial murder, violence in America, and deviance.

Depraved by John Glatt -- John Edward Robinson was a 56-year-old grandfather from rural Kansas. An entrepreneur and Eagle Scout, he was even honored as 'Man of the Year" at a Kansas City charity. To some of the women he met on the Internet, he was known as Slavemaster--a sexual deviate with a taste for sadomasochistic rituals of extreme domination and torture. Masquerading as a philanthropist, he promised women money and adventure. For fifteen years, he trawled the Web, snaring unsuspecting women. They were never seen again. But in the summer of 2000, the decomposed remains of two women were discovered in barrels on Robinson's farm, and three other bodies were found in storage units. Yet the depths of Robinson's bloodlust didn't end there. For authorities, the unspeakable criminal trail of Slavemaster was just beginning...

Why Do I Scream at God for the Rape of Babies? -- by Claudia J. Ford
The tragic story of a five-month-old South African baby named Vyanna who is left in a Johannesburg porn theater by her homeless mother and then gang-raped. The story's is one of healing, courage and growing love that Vyanna's adoptive mother experiences from the moment she sees the little girl. Journal entries, letters to friends and South African courts, and memories weave together Ford's two-year chronicle of a most unusual and rewarding - mother-daughter relationship.

Trail Of Blood: A Father, A Son and a Tell-Tale Crime Scene Investigation by Wanda Webb Evans, James Dunn

Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish-American Gangster T. J. English -- Here is the shocking true saga of the Irish American mob, from the mid-nineteenth century all the way to the present day. History shows that the heritage of the Irish American gangster was established in America long before that of the more widely portrayed Italian American mafioso, and has held strong through the modern age. In fact, the highest-ranking organized crime figure on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List -- alongside Osama bin Laden -- is not a wiseguy, a Latin King, or a gangbanging Blood or Crip, but an old-style Irish American mob boss from South Boston. In PADDY WHACKED, English brings to life nearly two centuries of Irish American gangsterism, which spawned such unforgettable characters as Mike "King Mike" McDonald, Chicago's subterranean godfather; Big Bill Dwyer, New York's most notorious rumrunner during Prohibition; Mickey Featherstone, troubled Vietnam vet turned Westies gang leader from Hell's Kitchen; and James "Whitey" Bulger, the ruthless and untouchable Southie legend. This is an epic story of corrupt politics, wanton murders, gambling empires, notorious brothels, tough women, and hard-drinking pugilists from the underbelly of America's most dangerous cities -- including New York, Boston, New Orleans, Chicago, Kansas City, and Cleveland. Combining storytelling verve with thorough research and a slew of never-before-published material -- including new interviews with former gang members -- English presents a riveting, seamless cultural history of the Irish American underworld. He offers a brilliant portrait of a people who fought tooth and nail for a better life from the moment they arrived in America, whether it meant taking charge within the realms of law enforcement and politics -- from Tammany Hall to the White House -- or capitalizing on what opportunities they could in the darker world beyond the law. PADDY WHACKED is an irresistible tour of the undercarriage of our history -- a ride that stretches from the earliest New York and New Orleans street wars through decades of bootlegging scams, union strikes, gang wars, and FBI investigations ... and along the way deepens our understanding of the American experience.

Forensic DNA Typing: Biology, Technology, and Genetics behind STR Markers
by John M. Butler -- The second edition of this highly successfull book includes the latest information on DNA typing systems, Y chromosome material and mitochondrial DMNA markers. New chapters cover statistical genetic analysis of DNA data, an emerging field of interest to DNA research. Several chapters on statistical analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) typing data have been contributed by Dr. George Carmody, a well-respected professor in forensic genetics. Specific examples make the the concepts of population genetics more understandable. The only book available that specifically covers detailed information on mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome.Chapters cover the topic from introductory level right up to cutting edge research. High-profile cases are addressed throughout the book.

Speaking of Crime: The Language of Criminal Justice by Lawrence M. Solan and Peter M. Tiersma Why do so many people voluntarily consent to searches by have the police search their person or vehicle when they know that they are carrying contraband or evidence of illegal activity? Does everyone understand the Miranda warning? How well can people recognize a voice on tape? Can linguistic experts identify who wrote an anonymous threatening letter? Speaking of Crime answers these questions and examines the complex role of language within our criminal justice system. Lawrence M. Solan and Peter M. Tiersma compile numerous cases, ranging from the Lindbergh kidnapping to the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton to the JonBenét Ramsey case, that provide real-life examples of how language functions in arrests, investigations, interrogations, confessions, and trials. In a clear and accessible style, Solan and Tiersma show how recent advances in the study of language can aid in understanding how legal problems arise and how they might be solved. With compelling discussions current issues and controversies, this book is a provocative state-of-the-art survey that will be of enormous value to legal scholars and professionals throughout the criminal justice system.

Law For Dummies by John Ventura Get answers to your legal questions — in plain English! Find out how to protect your family, your money, your job, and your rights If you're like most people, you probably don't know much about your legal rights and responsibilities — until you run smack-dab into a messy legal problem. Now revised and updated, this friendly guide helps you get a handle on a wide range of everyday legal issues, decipher legal mumbo-jumbo — and come out on top.Discover how to:

• Protect your child support rights
• Arm yourself against identity theft
• Clean up your credit and improve your credit score
• Hire the right attorney for your needs
• Draw up wills and living wills

American Law In A Global Context: The Basics George P. Fletcher and Steve Sheppard
Whatever your background, if you seek an understanding of the legal system of the United States, this is the book for you. American Law in a Global Context is an elegant and erudite introduction to the American legal system from a global perspective. It covers the law and lawyering tools taught in the first year of law school, explaining the underlying concepts and techniques of the common law used in U.S. legal practice. The ideas central to the development and practice of American law, as well as constitutional law, contracts, property, criminal law, and courtroom procedure, are all presented in their historical and intellectual contexts, accessible to the novice but with insight that will inform the expert. Actual cases illuminate each major subject, engaging readers in the legal process and the arguments between real people that make American law an ever-evolving system. George P. Fletcher and Steve Sheppard's exciting approach contrasts the American legal system with other legal systems, especially those of continental Europe. This comparison illuminates the core concepts of US law, making them easily understandable to readers from other systems, and offering a unique perspective on American law as part of global network of laws. Designed to help the foreign student grasp the basic ideas of pedagogy, legal institutions, and substantive law in the US, appendices include an introduction to the common law method, instruction on how to read a case, and the interpretation of statutes. Based on the course for lawyers from across the globe studying American law at Columbia University, this cutting edge volume makes the basics of American legal education accessible to students and the public worldwide. A must-own reference source for LLM students, undergraduates, and students of US law in other countries.

Of Prison, Perversions and Executions: BEHIND THE WIRE: An Inside Look at the prison system from one who lived it by richard k minard gives a behind the scene look at the workings of a maximum security prison. Executions are carried out flawlessly, most of the time. Brutal inmate rape happens even on Christmas. Families cry out for justice during executions only to be shocked that it just wasn't enough. The last words of a dying man are never heard. " Let's rock and roll" with these words, his last, the execution began.

Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett -- Life on the Outside tells the story of Elaine Bartlett, who spent sixteen years in Bedford Hills prison for selling cocaine--a first offense--under New York's Rockefeller drug laws. The book opens on the morning of January 26, 2000, when Bartlett is set free and returns to New York City. At 42, she has virtually nothing: no money, no job, no real home. All she does have is a large and troubled family, including four children, who live in a decrepit housing project on the Lower East Side. "I left one prison to come home to another," Elaine says. Over the next months, she clashes with her daughters, hunts for a job, visits her son and husband in prison, negotiates the rules of parole, and campaigns for the repeal of the laws that led to her long prison term. Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records, says: "At a time when the prison-industrial complex is destroying African American families and neighborhoods, Elaine Bartlett is more than a survivor: she is a heroine. The future of our communities depends on women like her."

Downsizing Prisons: How To Reduce Crime And End Mass Incarceration by Michael Jacobson Over 2 million people are incarcerated in America's prisons and jails, eight times as many since 1975. At current incarceration rates, an African American born in the U.S. today has a 30% chance of spending some time in prison. Mandatory minimum sentencing, parole agencies intent on sending people back to prison, three-strike laws, for-profit prisons, and other changes in the legal system have contributed to this spectacular rise of the general prison population. After overseeing the largest city jail system in the country, Michael Jacobson knows first-hand the inner workings of the corrections system. He argues that mass incarceration will not, as many have claimed, reduce crime nor create more public safety. Simply put, throwing away the key is not the answer. Instead, Jacobson suggests that our prison system needs a massive overhaul. Given the dire budget shortfalls facing most states, there really is no choice: we no longer have the revenue to continue prison expansion while simultaneously supporting education, health care, and lower taxes. Downsizing Prisons examines specific ways that states have begun to transform their prison systems. Jacobson offers practical policy solutions and strategies, including: changing how parole and probation agencies operate, significantly reducing punitive sentencing and "technical" parole violations, and supporting drug-treatment programs for low-level drug offenders. These policy changes can actually increase public safety as well as save money. As our prison populations swell to record levels, it is clear that the time to reform our prison system has come.

Between Good And Evil: Hunting Society's Most Violent Predators by Roger Depue February 3, 2005 Roger L. Depue. Chief of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit first came to prominence, when he headed a renowned team of mind hunters including John Douglas, Robert Ressler, and Roy Hazelwood. In a subbasement sixty feet under the Academy gun vault in Quantico, he broke new ground with analytical techniques and training programs used today. After retiring from the FBI, he founded an elite forensics group that consulted on cases, including the Martha Moxley and JonBenet Ramsey murders, and the Columbine school shootings. After suffering a devastating personal loss, Depue walked away from the outside world and joined a seminary. For three years this was his safe haven, a refuge from terrifying memories. And while counseling maximum security inmates, he rediscovered the goodness in people, and made the decision to return to his work. Depue's personal account, from growing up as a police officer's son to tracking down brutal murderers. With descriptions of human depravity and a passionate call to fight evil, BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL is the powerful story of one man's journey between darkness and redemption.

The Will to Survive: A Mental and Emotional Manual for Law Enforcement Professionals by Dr BobbySmith

Women's Police Stations : Gender, Violence, and Justice in Sao Paulo, Brazil -- Examines the relationship between women and the state, and the construction of gendered citizenship. These are police
stations run exclusively by women for women with the authority to investigate crimes against women, such as domestic violence, assault, and rape. São Paulo was the home of the first such police station, but now there
are more than 300 women's police stations throughout Brazil. Cecilia MacDowell Santos examines the dynamics of the relationship between women and
the state and the notion of gendered citizenship.

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