Social Legislation and Crime

Book excerpt: The book addresses a set of intriguing and complex questions in the study of law and society. How does legislation affect the behaviour of citizens? What role do attitudes play in rule following and under what conditions can legislation influence these attitudes? It juxtaposes the approaches to this set of questions. It deals with one of the fundamental questions of the interdisciplinary study of law. The possibilities and limitations of the legislature s influence on citizens behaviour in various fields are explored. The book will be of great interest to practitioners in probation victim support, police and others who are involved in the delivery of services to victims of crime.