Has the United States acted criminally in its development and use of atomic energy and nuclear weapons? The shaping of foreign policy around the threat of nuclear hostility, the subjection of Americans to human radiation experiments, and the massive environmental contamination caused by radioactive waste - all, say the authors of this provocative book, represent crimes committed by the state under the protective shield of national security.

David Kauzlarich and Ronald C. Kramer describe acts related to the manufacture, deployment, and testing of nuclear weapons that violate both international and federal regulatory law. They present a theoretical and historical framework for understanding these activities, examining the crimes within their organizational and social structural contexts.

They also consider the significant role that these weapons of mass destruction have played in world affairs and explore options for the prevention and control of future nuclear offenses.