The term "metaverse" is suddenly everywhere, from debates over Fortnite to the pages of The New York Times to the speeches of Mark Zuckerberg, who proclaimed in June 2021 that "the overarching goal" of Facebook is to "bring the metaverse to life." But what, exactly, is the metaverse? As pioneering theorist and venture capitalist Matthew Ball explains, it is the successor to the mobile internet that has defined the last two decades. The metaverse is a persistent, 3D, virtual world-a network of interconnected experiences and devices, tools and infrastructure, far beyond mere virtual reality. And it is poised to revolutionise every industry and function, from finance and healthcare to payments, consumer products and even sex work. The internet will no longer be at arm's length; instead, it will surround us, with our lives, labour and leisure taking place inside the metaverse. With sweeping authority, The Metaverse predicts trillions in new value-and the radical reshaping of society.

Queer criminological work is at the forefront of critical academic criminology, responding to the exclusion of queer communities from criminology, and the injustices that they experience through the criminal justice system. This volume draws together both theoretical and empirical contributions that develop the growing scholarship being produced at the intersection of 'queer' and 'criminology'. Reflecting the diversity of research that is undertaken at this intersection, the contributions to this volume offer a deeper theoretical and conceptual development of this field alongside empirical research that illustrates the continued relevance and urgency of such scholarship. The contributions consider what it means to be queering criminology in the current political, social, and criminological climate, and chart directions along which this field might develop in order to ensure that greater social and criminal justice for LGBTIQ communities is achieved.

This book offers critical reflections on the intersections between criminology and queer scholarship, and charts future directions for this field. Since their development over twenty-five years ago, queer scholarship and politics have been hotly contested fields, equally embraced and dismissed. Amid calls for criminology and criminal justice institutions to respond more effectively to the injustices faced by LGBTIQ people, criminologists have recently developed a Queer Criminology and turned to queer scholarship in the process. Through a sweeping analysis of critical criminologies, as well as issues as varied as shame and utopian thought, Matthew Ball points to the many opportunities for criminology to engage further with the more politically disruptive strands of queer scholarship. His analysis highlights that criminology and queer theory are 'dangerous bedfellows', and that navigating the tension between them is central to confronting the social and criminal injustices experienced by LGBTIQ communities. This book will be of particular interest for scholars of criminology, criminal justice, LGBTIQ studies, gender studies and critical theory.

This book presents six scholarly examinations of emerging issues in criminology and criminal justice as they impact LGBTQ+ people. It brings together contributions from leading international researchers exploring the needs of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in the criminal justice context. In addition to focusing on how sexual orientation and gender identity impact access to justice for LGBTQ+ persons, the book also explores how to improve the work of justice practitioners, policing, and corrections in ways that address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ clients. Specific chapters include: a study of support for myths about male rape victims and how indicators of intolerance might shape such beliefs; two examinations of police responses to same-sex intimate partner violence, including an exploration of the role of mandatory arrest policies; an investigation into the barriers LGBTQ+ people face when attempting to access police liaison officers; an analysis of how media coverage framed the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida; and suggestions for creating safer and more effective interventions for LGBTQ+ women and girls who are correctional clients. LGBTQ+ Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice will be a key resource for academics, researchers, and advanced students of criminology and criminal justice, law, victimology, policing, corrections, research methods, sociology, and media studies. The chapters in this book were originally published in the journal Criminal Justice Studies.