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Law & Disorder: Inside the Dark Heart of…
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Law & Disorder: Inside the Dark Heart of Murder (original 2013; edition 2014)

by John Douglas (Author)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1375198,151 (4.21)1
"For twenty-five years, John E. Douglas worked for the FBI, where he headed the elite Investigative Support Unit. The real-life model for FBI Agent Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, he's had a brilliant and terrifying career, getting inside the minds of notorious murderers and serial killers including Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and David Berkowitz (Son of Sam). Written with long-time collaborator Mark Olshaker, Law & Disorder is Douglas' most provocative and personal book to date. In it, he addresses every law enforcement professional's worst nightmare: those cases where, for one reason or another, justice was delayed...or even denied. Through a series of character-driven case histories--from the earliest trials in Salem, Massachusetts to the bungled trial of Amanda Knox--Douglas shows what happens when the system breaks down and bias, media coverage, and other influences get in the way of a dispassionate pursuit of the evidence. Here also are Douglas' personal reflections on his ongoing search for the truth--from painful lessons learned early in his career to his controversial findings in the West Memphis Three and Jon Benet Ramsey investigations. Brimming with procedural detail, Law & Disorder is an eye-opening insider's account of the exhilaration and frustration that attend the quest for justice."--from publisher's description… (more)
Member:Dan.the.man
Title:Law & Disorder: Inside the Dark Heart of Murder
Authors:John Douglas (Author)
Info:Pinnacle (2014), Edition: Reissue, 576 pages
Collections:Your library
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Law & Disorder:: The Legendary FBI Profiler's Relentless Pursuit of Justice by John Douglas (2013)

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Showing 5 of 5
John Douglas, a career FBI agent and criminal profiler, discusses a number of criminal cases in which justice may or may not have been served. Ideally, the criminal justice system will ensure that the guilty are punished, the innocent remain free, and justice is swift. Mr. Douglas points out that this is not always the case. He reviews a number of actual cases from the past, many of which will be familiar to the general reader, and points out how the resources of the FBI and the profiling techniques he helped put in place were or could have been helpful. In other cases, he admits, given limited inputs, the FBI may only end up reinforcing preconceived notions of local law enforcement. The cases he includes were interesting, and I enjoyed hearing his insights into the cases I was familiar with. One takeaway I have from the book is that if you ever find yourself in serious trouble, even if totally innocent, get a good lawyer right away to ensure you don't end up forgotten by a system which isn't always perfect. ( )
  rsutto22 | Jul 15, 2021 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
Usually my reviews are good and I can finish a book. This isn't one of those books. I had to stop at page 64. I tried... I really did try to like it, but it was getting annoying. The cases were interesting but the annoying thing was the author kept saying if I had this case, this is what i would have done. Yea I don't really care about that. Too wordy for each case and just not for me.

Oh and I was supposed to win this book from the author/publisher but never received it. Hmmm I wonder why.
  booklover3258 | Oct 3, 2018 |
Retired FBI profiler John Douglas tackles some famous criminal cases “after the fact”. Examining headline -making judgments such as Amanda Knox, The West Memphis Three, JonBenet Ramsey and several others Mr. Douglas draws on his 44-year career to try and explain the phenomenon of false confessions, wrongful convictions and miscarried justice.

Mr. Douglas begins his book with the Salem Witch trials – probably the most notorious case of miscarried justice in American history. The witch trials did, however, spawn the famous concept of “innocent until proven guilty”. That mission statement often proves to be easier said than done.

This was an interesting book, as Mr. Douglas does not shy away from topics such as police ineptitude, courtroom blunders and out-and-out lying by witnesses, prosecutors and even judges. Preconceived notions have sent more innocent people to prison than should be believable. Innocent people who subsequently face the death penalty. Mr. Douglas does not mince words on the topic of capital punishment either. Although I may not agree with all of his views on the subject, he did present them in a rational and thought-provoking manner. For anyone who has followed any of the cases examined in this book, it makes for an interesting “wrap-up”. I even learned a few interesting tidbits about the cases that I had not seen mentioned in other accounts.
( )
  ChristineEllei | Jul 14, 2015 |
Very interesting commentary on how evidence is, or at least should be compiled and analyzed. After a while you reach a saturation point with depravity and justice though. ( )
  VGAHarris | Jan 19, 2015 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
For twenty-five years, John E. Douglas worked for the FBI, where he headed the elite Investigative Support Unit. The real-life model for FBI Agent Jack Crawford in “The Silence of the Lambs”, he’s had a brilliant and terrifying career, getting inside the minds of notorious murderers and serial killers including Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and David Berkowitz (Son of Sam). Written with longtime collaborator Mark Olshaker, “Law & Disorder” is Douglas’ most provocative and personal book to date. In it, he addresses every law enforcement professional’s worst nightmare: those cases where, for one reason or another, justice was delayed …or even denied. Through a series of character-driven case histories – from the earliest trials in Salem, Massachusetts to the bungled trial of Amanda Knox – Douglas shows what happens when the system breaks down and bias, media coverage, and other influences get in the way of a dispassionate pursuit of the evidence. Here also are Douglas’ personal reflections on his ongoing search for the truth – from painful lessons learned early in his career to his controversial findings in the West Memphis Three and Jon Benet Ramsey investigations. Brimming with procedural detail, “Law & Disorder” is an eye-opening insider’s account of the exhilaration and frustration that attend the quest for justice.

This book is a fantastic read hands down. John Douglas, is one of the nation’s foremost experts in criminal profiling. In this new book he shows you several criminal cases where the police and prosecution got it all wrong in a rush to judgement. The book is really fascinating, and so is Mr Douglas’s wealth of knowledge about criminal justice.

If you only read one book this year make “Law and Disorder” that book. If you have any interest in the criminal justice system and wrongful convictions you will want to read this book.
Posted on http://dixielandcountry.com
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amazon.com ( )
  dixielandcountry.com | Apr 18, 2013 |
Showing 5 of 5
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Douglas, Johnprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Olshaker, Markmain authorall editionsconfirmed
Barrett, JoeNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
Justice is truth in action,
--Benjamin Disraeli
February 11, 1851
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from the Birmingham Jail, 1963
Dedication
To the women and men who fight for integrity and justice, regardless of the cost or consequences, this book is dedicated with admiration and respect.
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She was different, an outsider.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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"For twenty-five years, John E. Douglas worked for the FBI, where he headed the elite Investigative Support Unit. The real-life model for FBI Agent Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, he's had a brilliant and terrifying career, getting inside the minds of notorious murderers and serial killers including Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and David Berkowitz (Son of Sam). Written with long-time collaborator Mark Olshaker, Law & Disorder is Douglas' most provocative and personal book to date. In it, he addresses every law enforcement professional's worst nightmare: those cases where, for one reason or another, justice was delayed...or even denied. Through a series of character-driven case histories--from the earliest trials in Salem, Massachusetts to the bungled trial of Amanda Knox--Douglas shows what happens when the system breaks down and bias, media coverage, and other influences get in the way of a dispassionate pursuit of the evidence. Here also are Douglas' personal reflections on his ongoing search for the truth--from painful lessons learned early in his career to his controversial findings in the West Memphis Three and Jon Benet Ramsey investigations. Brimming with procedural detail, Law & Disorder is an eye-opening insider's account of the exhilaration and frustration that attend the quest for justice."--from publisher's description

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