This compendium of original essays has been written in honour of Richard Sparks's voluminous and exceptional contributions to scholarship. With contributions from across the globe this edited collection will appeal to many and hopefully stimulate debate about the critical role of criminology in democratic politics. Kerry Carrington, Queensland University of Technology, Australia This is a deeply personal book, but also an original and exciting contribution to the fields of democratic politics and public criminology. It honours, represents, and develops Richard Sparks' professional work beautifully, amongst many other things. The editors should be congratulated on this project: a work of originality, collegiality and love. Alison Liebling, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Cambridge, UK This is a superb book on an urgent, important topic. Building on Richard Sparks seminal work on "public criminology," a distinguished group of international contributors presents a wide-ranging discussion of criminology's role in the democratic process and considers how we can go about creating a better politics of crime and control. This is an edited collection that deserves to be read and re-read.

David Garland, NYU, USA.