For all their interest in crime, most Americans know relatively little about the reality of crime and the criminal justice system in the United States, and most of what Americans do know is a loose collection of haphazardly accumulated truths, half-truths, and outright falsehoods. The American public's perception of crime is out of line with crime reality. One consequence of such misinformation on the prevalence of violent crime is that many people are more afraid of being the victim of a violent crime than they realistically should be. Myths and Realities of Crime and Justice: What Every American Should Know provides readers with an accurate and up-to-date picture of crime and justice in America. It presents many recent findings from criminologists and criminal justice practitioners and debunks common misconceptions.