The sparse literature on interest groups in US criminal justice policy making has emphasized the importance of professional relative to lay groups. A review of these studies and more recent case studies of US federal criminal justice legislation suggests that lay groups affect criminal justice policy by keeping certain issues off the policy agenda, educating policy makers and the public about emerging issues, and maintaining support for policies. To provide a better understanding of what does or does not become US criminal justice policy, this article proposes a broader definition of the policy making process and a framework for analyzing interest groups in criminal justice.
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