Book Review: Jackall, R. (2005). Street Stories: The World of Police Detectives. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 429 pp

• Published date: 01 September 2007
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016807304859
• Date: 01 September 2007
• Author: Jean Marie McGloin
• Subject Matter: Articles

either the show or the show’s characters. Simon recounts specific episodes from the popu-

lar series and provides these as examples to illustrate the shortcomings of American soci-

ety and its institutions. This, in and of itself, would make the book ideal for a class related

to media studies or popular culture. Simon takes a very creative approach by using The

Sopranos as a vehicle to critique modern-day society. The author is critical of many social

institutions, including the family, politics, law enforcement, big business,and the global econ-

omy. Simon is very creative in his approach. For example, he coins a term, “crimeogenic

department store,” to illustrate the types of crimes committed among street gangs, organized

criminal syndicates, white-collar executives, and banks and major corporations. This elab-

orate metaphor provides the reader with an in-depth analysis of the relationships between

each of the above groups, and it alone is worth the price of the book.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this book is that Simon concludes his work

by making an appeal for collective social action. It is obvious that he is disenchanted with

the current state of affairs, and he urges readers to become involved in reshaping the

American Dream. Simon contends that The Sopranos illustrates many of the shortcomings

of postmodern society and suggests that people must become involved if there is to be any

meaningful type of change. This is a truly interesting piece of work, and it has scholarly

merit. It could be assigned as supplemental reading for virtually any criminal justice class,

but it would also be appropriate for a history or political science course. I strongly recom-

mend it; I finished it in one night.

Robert M. Worley

University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa

Jackall, R. (2005). Street Stories:

The World of Police Detectives.

Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 429 pp.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016807304859

It seems as though there is an ever-growing collection of articles, books, and media

accounts regarding the New York City Police Department. Even so, Street Stories: The World

of Police Detectives emerges as a contribution to this literature. Relying on fieldwork in the

New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Transit Police (NYCTP) over the course of a

number of years in the early 1990s, Robert Jackall describes in vivid detail the daily routines

of police detectives in New York City. Unlike most researchers who write about their limited

exposure to particular areas of squad work, truncated ranks of officers, or specific shifts of

police work, Jackall was granted unprecedented access to the lives of detectives. By observing

cases in action, reviewing old case files, riding along and talking with detectives,and becom-

ing an accepted presence, he was enmeshed in detective work. Jackall subsequently provides

a lens that reveals the normative behavior and unique language of the squad rooms. As a

result of being unfettered by a looming deadline or limited admission to the NYPD and

NYCTP, this book offers an insight rarely seen in journalism or academia.

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