The Crime Control of True Crime Best-Sellers

Abstract

In criminology, social and legal eras are often referred to as dominated by either due process or crime control narratives. In general, crime control narratives focus on the need for tough-on-crime policies and on the terror of criminals wreaking havoc in society. By contrast, due process narratives focus on the need to move slowly and methodically through our justice process to avoid mistakes and violations of human rights. These eras swing back and forth, neither wholly related nor unrelated to the conservative/liberal pendulum of broader politics. Arguably, despite a conservative and nationalist moment in US politics, our criminal justice policy pendulum is again swinging in the due-process direction. This is evidenced in policy reforms and popular calls for policy reform such as monitoring the police, ending cash bail, legalizing marijuana, and so on. Contrary to prevailing trends, best-selling true crime books remain crime control oriented regardless of the historical/cultural era.