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How justified is concern over the perceived risks posed to society by the mentally ill? Will They Do It Again? considers the issue of public protection within a broad context of risk in society generally and argues that public fear over the danger posed by the mentally ill is at odds with the evidence. The author examines such cases where management of the mentally ill has failed and sets out suggestions for improvements in practice. This book presents an unbiased picture of the issue and will prove invaluable to practitioners in criminal justice and psychiatry. ... Read more

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This key work exposes international studies from leading social sciences researchers who use various theoretical perspectives and methodological orientations to depict deviant drug and crime-related pathways. The chapters have been grouped into four sections. The first section, "Deviance, Set and Setting", discusses a new basis for the understanding of deviant pathways. The second section, "Youth, Drug and Delinquency Pathways", presents empirical studies which help to understand the drug-crime relationship. The third section discusses "Adult, Drug and Crime Pathways" adopted by drug users, "flexers", traders or dealers, and traffickers. Finally, the fourth section, "Ways Out of Deviant Pathways", explores approaches for controlling drug use and criminality socially or individually, with or without legal intervention or formal help. In short, the book presents an overview of the most advanced research in the field of deviant drug-and crime-related pathways. ... Read more

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This text focuses on contemporary criminology theory about the causes of crime and criminality. It outlines the claims that are advanced in many different theories, but goes beyond simply providing an inventory of current viewpoints. This work discusses: whether crime is a homogenous phenomenon, the social-structural processes in criminality, the question of whether biosocial factors must be incorporated, feminist criminology and realist criminology perspectives. ... Read more

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-- Albert R. Roberts, Editor-in-Chief

Professor of Criminal Jus,Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention Journal

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Numerous criminologists have noted their dissatisfaction with the state of criminology. The need for a new paradigm for the 21st century is clear. However, many distrust biology as a factor in studies of criminal behavior, whether because of limited exposure or because the orientation of criminology in general has a propensity to see it as racist, classist, or at least illiberal. This innovative new book by noted criminologist Anthony Walsh dispels such fears, examining how information from the biological sciences strengthens criminology work and both complements and improves upon traditional theories of criminal behavior. With its reasoned case for biological science as a fundamental tool of the criminologist, Walsh's groundbreaking work will be required reading for all students and faculty within the field of criminology.

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In criminology, environmentalism is the assumption that variations in criminal behaviour result only from variations in environmental factors, especially social environmental factors. The biosocial perspective is quite different. It assumes that biological and environmental factors interact to affect criminal behaviour. Social environmental explanations have dominated the field of criminology for at least the past century. Supporters of this perspective argue that because criminal is an ever-changing legal designation, it makes no sense to believe that crimes are the result of biology. Biosocial theorists concede that criminality is a legal concept, but argue that at the core of the concept are acts that are recognised as unacceptable in all societies. The theme of this book is simple: Biology matters when trying to understand criminal behaviour. This is not to exclude social factors but to maintain that social and biological factors interact to affect our varying tendencies to violate criminal statutes.Despite the conceptual simplicity of the biosocial perspective, the evidence that supports it is often complex and rests upon a number of biological principles that many criminologists do not understand. This book conveys some of the excitement that those working from a biosocial perspective are experiencing as they make new discoveries about how biological and social factors interact to affect criminal behaviour. ... Read more

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Women are in greater danger of being raped in some American states than in others. The authors examine the evidence in support of four seemingly contradictory theories and integrate them into one sociocultural theory that accounts for these differences in the incidence of rape. ... Read more

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The diversity and richness of biosocial theory is illustrated in this volume which introduces numerous views on the biological and social causes of criminality and pro/antisociality. Contributors outline basic assumptions of the biosocial perspective; examine various evolutionary, genetic, and neurochemical aspects of criminality; and then stretch existing knowledge to new theoretical limits. This volume is intended to alert social scientists, particularly criminologists, of recent developments in this field. ... Read more

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Is cost-benefit analysis the best means to determine and formulate public policies? To answer this question Jeffrey Leigh Sedgwick examines its application to crime and criminal justice and the implications of that application. In this interdisciplinary study, Sedgwick first assesses the value of applying economic models to the social problem of crime. He compares economic models to sociological ones and then addresses the question of whether economic models are compatible with the values of a liberal political order. He shows that cost-benefit analysis suffers from technical and ethical problems when used to set law enforcement goals. Current techniques for measuring the costs of crime are crude and unreliable, he argues, and overreliance on citizen and consumer preference may lead to the adoption of policies incompatible with American political traditions and respect for human rights. Sedgwick concludes that economic analysis cannot, by itself, lead to the adoption of effective and publicly defensible policies to combat crime. ... Read more

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This book presents the most comprehensive study to date of the major biological, psychological and environmental predictors of criminal behavior, particularly violence, through a detailed analysis of nearly 1000 low-income black youths from their birth to early adulthood. By examining over 150 variables spanning the lives of these youths, the study concludes that both biological and environmental factors produce strong, and independent, effects on delinquency and adult crime among males and females, who are distinguished from their controls. Powerful influences on violence include behavioral disorders during youth, low school achievement, parents with a low educational level, an absent father, hyperactivity, lead poisoning, left-handedness and mixed dominance, soft neurological signs, and neurological abnormalities. Case study comparisons between the most violent males and females and their controls show that criminals evidence a higher incidence of lead poisoning, disobedience, head injury, and a history of epileptic seizures among themselves or their immediate family members. Violent females are also more likely to have a family member who was incarcerated. The results do not confirm the findings of previous studies indicating direct relationships between violence and early intelligence, mental retardation, socioeconomic status, or early central nervous system dysfunction. The author concludes that both biological and environmental factors, in interaction, cause crime. For example, whereas some factors, such as hyperactivity, can be genetically transmitted across generations, causing a biological predisposition to criminal behavior, hyperactive people, as adults, can in turn, create instability in their families, making their children more prone to criminality, an environmental condition. The author concludes that most factors contributing to criminal and violent behavior can be prevented because they have environmental origins that can be eliminated. ... Read more

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The 8% Solution is a practical, common-sense guide offering long-term solutions to juvenile crime through a proven program. Written in narrative style with a liberal use of anecdotal incidents, this is an easy-to-read description of the law and details effective ways to correct the problem.

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The more generous social welfare system in Europe is one of the most important differences between the European and the US society. Defenders of the European welfare state argue that it improves social cohesion and prevents crime. On the other hand, the US economy is performing quite well such that crime rates might come down due to better legal income opportunities. This book takes this trade-off as a point of departure and contributes to a better interdisciplinary understanding of the interactions between crime, economic performance and social exclusion. It evaluates the existing economic and criminological research and provides innovative empirical investigations on the basis of international panel data sets from different levels of regional aggregation. Among other aspects, results clearly reveal the crime reducing potential of intact families and the link beween crime and labour market. A special focus is on estimating the consequences of crime,a topic rarely analysed in literature. ... Read more

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The social learning theory of crime integrates Edwin H.Sutherlands differential association theory with behaviorallearning theory. It is a widely accepted and appliedapproaches to criminal and deviant behavior. However,it is also widely misinterpreted, misstated, and misapplied.This is the first single volume, in-depth, authoritativediscussion of the background, concepts, development,modifications, and empirical tests of social learningtheory. Akers begins with a personal account of Sutherlandsinvolvement in criminology and the origins of hisinfluential perspective. He then traces the intellectualhistory of Sutherlands theory as well as social learningtheory, providing a comprehensive explanation of howeach theory approaches illegal behavior. Akers reviewsresearch on various correlates and predictors of crime anddelinquency that may be used as operational measures ofdifferential association, reinforcement, and other sociallearning concepts.Akers proposes a new, integrated theory of sociallearning and social structure that links group differencesin crime to individual conduct. He concludes with acogent discussion of the implications of social learningtheory for criminology and public policy. Now availablein paperback, with a new introduction by the author, thisvolume will be invaluable to professionals and for use incourses in criminology and deviance. ... Read more

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Originally published in 1957.

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This text on the role of rational choice and situational choice theory in relation to crime prevention and crime policy, examines: the role of opportunity; rational choice and the legal model of the criminal; the social demand for crime prevention; and the ethics of situational crime prevention. ... Read more

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Stanton Samenow, co-author of the widely respected three-volume study of The Criminal Personality, has collected the questions posed by audiences during his speaking engagements of the past twenty-eight years about causes, characteristics, and treatments of antisocial behavior. Now he draws on his research and clinical experience with hundreds of men, women, and children to offer no-frills answers that embody his informed perspectives on some of the toughest policy issues facing individuals, institutions, and governments today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Book review
Very informative book.It goes well with "Inside the criminal mind,"also by Stanton Samenow.

GOOD JOB BUT REDUNDENT
Based on his 35 years of experience evaluating the psychology of criminals, Stanton Samenow has come to the belief that criminals are not made by external elements such as their environment, the way they were treated by their parents, peer pressure, etc. Criminals are formed because, for reasons so far not disclosed by him, early on in life, like at ages 2-5, criminals got in the habit of, and comfortable with, making choices to act as antisocial self-centered predators. The first 250 pages of his book is laid out in the format of answering questions posed to him during lectures he has given primarily to forensic psychologists. Based on their questions, these social worker seem to have the belief that criminals are formed by factors external to themselves. In response to almost all their questions he basically answers that they are wrong, and that the cause of the criminal behavior is, as stated above, is based solely on their habits of making antisocial self-centered decisions when confronted with almost any situation. To prove his point, he follows up on his statement that these social workers are wrong with examples and statistics from his own experience. For example, in answer to their implication that parental behavior makes criminals out of their children he shows many cases where in a family with say 5 children, children 1,2,3 & 5 turn out to be very good citizens whereas child 4 turns out to be a career criminal. Samenow makes a very good point with each example.

I had two criticisms. By 1/5 the way into the first part of the book I was able to know how he was going to answer each question. I was saying to myself, "Ok Stanton, I got your point already!" If I were interested in selling others on Samenow's point of view this first part of the book would be a good encyclopedia on how to answer people who held the classic belief that criminals are made by factors external to themselves. The second objection was it felt as if he had an axe to grind, and he believed that those who held the classic belief were "dissing" him.

The last part of the book, about 50 pages, was the most interesting and informative. Here he went into the observations and thought processes he and colleagues went through when working in a clinic where they interviewed hundreds of criminals. He was clear and persuasive as to the validity ofhow he had come to hold his present beliefs.

Overall, it was a good book. You would learn a lot if you have any interest in the criminals'thinking process.

Not the best introduction....
to Dr. Samenow's work. The reader would be better to forego this until reading Inside the Criminal Mind. Dr. Samenow has collected questions from lectures over the years from the audience and compiled them into a topicalformat. This book is somewhat of a rehash of earlier works, but the topicalformat makes it a good quick reference to his ideas on various aspects ofcriminality. I recommend this as a companion to Inside the Criminal Mind aswell as The Criminal Personality to all who are working in evaluation andtreatment of criminals.

Been there, done that
Rehash of Inside the Criminal Mind with an obsessive bent on saying it's NOT the fault of the family or society that a criminal has developed. Then Samenow goes on to explain how family and society can prevent thedevelopment of an antisocial personality! He then explains how his methodsof rehabilitation are the only methods that work. Seems to me if rehab canbe accomplished by society, then prevention can also be accomplished bysociety. Samenow has trouble not contradicting himself over and over. Asthis book is but a poor restatement of his earlier book, skip this one andget Inside the Criminal Mind instead. Pat Brown/Director/InvestigativeCriminal Profiler/The Sexual Homicide Exchange, Inc.

A clear and concise discussion of criminal thinking.
Straight Talk About Criminals is a no nonsense, clear, and to the point discussion of the common misconceptions about the criminal personality.

As a practioner of Cognitive Self-Change programs in an institutionalsetting and a program consultant, I wish all corrections professionals, lawenforcement officers, judges and policy makers would take the time to readthis book.

Dr. Samenow has compiled questions for twenty years from hisworkshops, lectures and talks concerning criminals. In this book he clearlyand systematically answers these questions through application of conceptshe and Dr. Yochelson pioneered through many years of research while workingwith criminals. Dr. Samenow discusses what works and what doesn't work whendealing with some of the most difficult of clientele. He then goes on totell us, with crystal clarity, WHY some things work while others do not.

How do criminals view themselves and others? Why is it so difficult toeffectively counsel criminals? What are the pitfalls of working with acriminal client? Why do well meaning professionals meet with so littlesuccess? Why do so many corrections professionals seem to experienceburnout? Dr.Samenow answers these and other questions in terms that anyonecan understand.

Once again Dr. Stanton E. Samenow gives hope to thosemired in traditional approaches to changing criminal behavior. Theframework of Dr. Samenow's criminal thinking concepts shines a bright lightinto the dark recesses of the criminal mind. ... Read more