Speaking of Crime: The Language of Criminal Justice

An essential introduction to the use and misuse of language within the criminal justice system, updated for a new generation.

Does everyone understand the Miranda warning? Why do people confess to a crime they did not commit? Can linguistic experts identify who wrote an anonymous threatening letter? Since its first publication, Speaking of Crime has been answering these questions. Introducing major topics and controversies at the intersection of language and law, Lawrence M. Solan, Peter M. Tiersma, and Tammy Gales apply multidisciplinary insights to examine the complex role of language within the US justice system.

The second edition features in-depth discussions of recent cases, new legislation, and innovative research advances, and includes a new chapter on who interprets the laws governing linguistic contexts. Thoroughly updated and approachable, Speaking of Crime is a state-of-the-art survey that will be useful to scholars, students, and practitioners throughout the criminal justice system.

Lawrence M. Solan (1952-2024) was the 1901 Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus at Brooklyn Law School. Peter M. Tiersma (1952-2014) was professor at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Tammy Gales is professor of linguistics at Hofstra University, New York.