This book investigates how the language and rhetoric used by policymakers, media, and legal professionals shape public perception and the practical application of criminal justice systems. Michael J. Coyle, an expert in the sociology of law and criminal justice, examines the discursive frameworks that justify punitive policies and mass incarceration. By analyzing various communication channels, the author argues that the way we talk about crime directly influences the structural outcomes of the justice system.

Scholars in the field of criminology recognize this work as a critical contribution to the study of social constructionism within legal systems. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, making it a valuable resource for students and practitioners interested in the intersection of language and policy.