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When Crime Waves
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When Crime Waves



July 2005 | 224 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Despite its wide usage, the concept of the "crime wave" has rarely been given explicit and detailed attention by criminologists. However, an exploration of this term, its various usages and the social forces which create, maintain and terminate crime waves facilitates an understanding of a diverse range of issues of interest to undergraduate audiences.

When Crime Waves intends to focus on the crime wave as a way of organizing and critically investigating several such issues including: - how and why crime rates change over time - why some types of crime and not others come in waves - how the ways in which we count crime document (and sometimes create) crime waves - the role played by the mass media, politicians and interest group leaders in the promotion of crime waves

Key Features:

The only book to critically examine the phenomenon of crime waves in an engaging fashion for undergraduate students.

Historical and contemporary examples drawn primarily from the U.S. International examples will be threaded thoughout the book for a comparative perspective.

Examines the role media and politicians play in creating the perception that a crime wave has occurred.

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgements
 
Chapter 1: What are Crime Waves?
Defining Crime Waves

 
Social Constructionism

 
The Criminal Content of Crime Waves

 
The Nature of Waves

 
Some Uses of Crime Waves

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 2: Why do Crime Rates go Up and Down? Dislocation, Diffusion and Innovation
The Demography of Offending

 
Social Dislocations

 
Diffusion

 
Innovation

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 3: Crime Waves by the Numbers
Numerate and Innumerate Consumers

 
The Statistics of Crime Waves

 
Statistics in the Raw

 
Emergent Problems

 
Statistical Record Keeping as a Social Process

 
Statistics in the Media

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 4: Mass Media and Crime Waves
Importance of Crime to Mass Media

 
How Do the News Media Cover Crime?

 
Why Do Media Cover Crime as They Do?

 
How Do Media Generate Crime Waves?

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 5: That's the Rumor
Talking About Crime

 
Rumors and Legends

 
The Rumor Process

 
The Social Implications of Talk

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 6: Being Afraid
The Meaning of Fear

 
What Are We Afraid Of?

 
Who Is Afraid?

 
Do Rising Crime Levels Cause Fear?

 
Does Fear Cause Rising Crime Levels?

 
The (Ir)rationality of Fear

 
When Fear Goes Wild

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 7: Crime Waves and Public Policy
The Political Context

 
We're Going to War

 
Policy and Problem Image

 
Searching for the Panacea

 
When Social Control Becomes the Problem

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 8: Crime Waves: A Skeptic's Guide
Are Crime Rates Really Going Up?

 
What Causes the Sudden Shifts in Crime Levels?

 
Can We Really Trust Crime Statistics?

 
Are My Own Experiences (And Those of My Friends) A Useful Guide as to Whether Crime Levels Are Increasing?

 
What Are We to Make of the Media Obsession With Crime?

 
These Stories I Have Been Hearing From so Many People Have to be True, Don't They?

 
The Fear of Crime is Irrational, Right?

 
It's Fear that Drives the Justice System Response, Isn't It?

 
A Rising Crime Level is A Simple Problem with A Simple Solution, Right?

 
When Interventions are Followed By Falling Crime Levels, Can We Assume Cause and Effect?

 
 
References
 
Index
 
About the Author

"Vincent Sacco has written and intriguing little book on the complex phenomenon called "crime waves." Relying primarily on case studies and historical accounts, he paints a fascinating picture of crime waves as they are constructed and perceived by society. The ultimate value of Sacco's book may be that it helps one to appreciate the futility of simple, quick-fix solutions to complex, of even worse, illusory problems. This is a very readable and engaging work aimed at undergraduate students in the social sciences."

J. Stephen Wormith

This text will be useful to students in understanding the context of what they do, particuarly those working in the field of policing/ criminal justice.

Ms Helen Poole
Social Science , Coventry University
July 15, 2010

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