The Use of Narrative in the Criminal Justice Classroom: Book Club as a Teaching Tool

Abstract

This paper explores the use of crime narratives through book clubs in criminal justice education. While true crime media has gained popularity, it often presents a skewed view of criminal justice realities. In contrast, carefully selected narratives in educational settings can promote significant learning experiences, as outlined in Fink’s taxonomy. These narratives can help humanize justice-involved individuals, challenge stereotypes, and provide a more balanced understanding of the criminal justice system. The growing field of narrative criminology further supports the use of stories to examine social hierarchies and inequalities within the justice system. Book clubs, when integrated effectively into coursework, have shown promise in increasing student engagement and building relationships.