Criminal Violence

Patterns, Explanations, and Interventions

Fourth Edition

Marc Riedel and Wayne Welsh

"Patterns" describe the characteristics of victims, offenders, and offenses; places where violence occurs frequently; and trends over time
"Explanations" look at the major theories that are used to understand each type of violence
"Interventions" propose solutions for each type of violence, including diverse legal and social strategies--both proactive (e.g., prevention) and reactive (e.g., punishment)

New to this Edition:

Expanded coverage of elder abuse and mass murder
A revised chapter on rape that includes a more in-depth discussion of date rape and campus sexual assault, as well as new material on sexual violence education
Discussion of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2009
New material on effects of media violence and gun control legislation
Thoroughly updated to include relevant examples, including mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut, Mexican drug cartels, violence prevention programs and evaluations

Criminal Violence

Patterns, Explanations, and Interventions

Fourth Edition

Marc Riedel and Wayne Welsh

Description

Criminal Violence: Patterns, Explanations, and Prevention, Fourth Edition, provides a current, comprehensive, and highly accessible overview of major topics, theories, and controversies within the field of criminal violence.

Using engaging, straightforward language, Marc Riedel and Wayne Welsh consider diverse theoretical perspectives and present state-of-the-art prevention and intervention methods. In their discussions of various types of violence, the authors employ a consistent and coherent three-part framework that allows students to see the important relationships between research, theory, and application.

Previous publication dates

September 2010, March 2007, October 2001

Criminal Violence

Patterns, Explanations, and Interventions

Fourth Edition

Marc Riedel and Wayne Welsh

Section I. Introduction
1. Violence and Criminal Violence
Defining Violence
Turning Violence into Criminal Violence
Perspectives on Criminal Violence
-- A Criminological Perspective
-- A Criminal Justice Perspective
-- Public Health Perspectives
How Is Criminal Violence Studied?
-- Theoretical Perspectives
-- Research Methods
-- Challenges of Violence Research
What Lies Ahead?
-- A Tripartite Approach to Understanding Violence
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References
Section II. Tools
2. Measures of Violence
The Application of Measures of Violence
Overview
Crime Rates
Uniform Crime Reports
-- Collecting Violent Crime Data
National Incident-Based Reporting System
-- Comparing the Uniform Crime Report and the National Incident-Based Reporting System
National Crime Victimization Survey
-- The Redesign of the National Crime Victimization Survey
-- The National Crime Victimization Survey Today
-- Strengths and Limitations of the National Crime Victimization Survey
-- Limitations of the National Crime Victimization Survey
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References
3. Violence in Other Times and Places
Violence in the Early United States
White and Native American Warfare
-- The Trail of Tears
Slavery, African Americans, and Violence
-- Lynching
Social Banditry
Prohibition
-- The Role of Organized Crime
Contemporary Trends in Violence
-- Impersonalization of Homicide
-- Violence in Other Places
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Note
References
Section III. Types of Criminal Violence
4. Homicides and Assaults
Homicides and Assaults in the United States
-- Age, Gender, and Race
-- Other Characteristics
Arrest Clearances
-- Multiple Murders
Trends
-- Trends in Arrest Clearances
-- Trends in Serial Homicide
Explanations
-- Symbolic Interaction
-- Subcultural Theories
-- Explaining the Characteristics of Arrest Clearances
-- Explaining Serial Homicides
Interventions
-- Increasing Clearance Rates
-- Apprehending Serial Killers
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References
5. Robbery
Patterns and Trends
Explanations
-- Strain Theory and Differential Opportunity Theory
-- Control Theory
-- Differential Association Theory
-- Symbolic Interaction Theory
-- Feminist Theory
-- Routine Activities Theory
Interventions
Criminal Justice Approaches
-- Opportunity Reduction Strategies
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Note
References
6. Rapes and Sexual Assaults
Definitions
Patterns and Trends
-- Characteristics of Victims, Offenders, and Offenses
Explanations
-- Psychiatric Perspectives
-- Feminist Theories
-- Social Cognitive Theories
-- Multifactor Theories
Interventions
-- Rape Law Reform
-- Incarceration
-- Sex Offender Notification and Registration Laws
-- Victim Resistance
-- Victim Services
-- Sexual Violence Education
-- Sex Offender Treatment Programs
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
References
7. Hate Crimes
Definitions
Patterns and Trends
Explanations
-- Group Conflict Theories
-- Strain Theory
-- Social Learning Theory
Interventions
-- Law Enforcement Responses
-- Hate Crime Legislation
-- Civil Lawsuits
-- Educational Strategies
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
References
Section IV. Violence in Specific Settings and Contexts
8. Intimate Violence
"People Hit Family Members Because They Can"
Patterns and Risks
-- Intimate Partner Violence
-- Violence Toward Family Members
Trends
-- Intimate Partners
-- Child Killings
Explanations
-- Intimate Partner Violence
-- Violence Toward Children
Interventions
-- Reducing Intimate Partner Violence
-- Reducing Family Violence
Conclusion: Is It Time for Another Look?
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References
9. Workplace Violence
Introduction
-- Multiplier Effects
Patterns and Trends
-- Types of Workplace Violence
-- Nonfatal Workplace Violence
-- Workplace Homicides
-- "Going Postal"
Explanations
-- Routine Activities
-- Rational Choice and Aggression in the Workplace
Interventions
-- Prevention Policies and Strategies
-- Empirical Evidence
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References
10. School Violence
Patterns and Trends
-- Fear and Avoidance
-- School Security Responses
-- School Incidents and Disciplinary Actions
-- Student Victimization
-- Teacher Victimization
-- Self-Reported School Violence
Explanations of School Disorder
-- Individual Explanations
-- School-Level Theories
-- Community and Multilevel Explanations of School Disorder
Interventions
-- School-Based Violence Prevention: What Works?
-- The National Study of Delinquency Prevention in Schools
-- Examples of School-Based Prevention Programs
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References
11. Gangs and Gang Violence
Patterns and Trends
-- Growth and Change in Gangs
-- Gang Organization and Violence
Explanations
-- Strain Theories
-- Cultural Deviance
-- Social Control
-- Interactional Theory
Interventions
-- Reducing Gang Violence in Boston
-- Pulling Levers in Other Jurisdictions
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References
12. The Role of Firearms in Violence
Patterns and Trends
-- Crimes Involving Firearms
-- Victims
-- Characteristics of Offenders
-- Firearm Acquisition, Ownership, and Use
Explanations
-- Symbolic Interaction Theory
-- Routine Activities and Illegal Markets
-- Cultural Theories and Firearm Availability
-- Media Violence
Interventions
-- Disrupting Illegal Gun Markets
-- Gun Control Legislation
-- Right-to-Carry Laws
-- Firearm Injury Prevention Programs
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Note
References
13. The Role of Drugs and Alcohol in Violence
Patterns
Explanations
-- Biological and Psychological Effects
-- Routine Activities
-- Cultural Explanations
-- Structural Explanations
-- Situational Explanations
Interventions
-- Criminal Justice Approaches
-- Public Health Approaches
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
References
14. Terrorism
Definitions
Patterns and Trends
-- A Brief History of Terrorism
-- State-Sponsored Terrorism
-- Terrorist Tactics
-- Types of Terrorists
-- Terrorist Incidents
Explanations
-- Strain Theory
-- Social Learning Theory
-- Conflict Theory
Interventions
-- The 9/11 Report
-- The Patriot Act
-- Military Action
-- Diplomacy and International Cooperation
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
References
Section V. Conclusion
15. Prevention and Punishment: A Delicate Balance
Criminal Justice Approaches
-- Criminal Justice Goals
-- The Death Penalty
-- Three-Strikes Laws
-- The Limits of Punishment
Public Health Approaches to Punishment and Prevention
-- The Multilevel Risk Approach
-- Evidence-Based Practices and Programs
-- Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders
-- Community-Based Approaches
-- Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development
When Violent Crime Goes Down, Do We Know Why?
Conclusions
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
References

Criminal Violence

Patterns, Explanations, and Interventions

Fourth Edition

Marc Riedel and Wayne Welsh

Author Information

Marc Riedel is Professor of Sociology at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Wayne Welsh is Professor of Criminal Justice at Temple University.

Criminal Violence

Patterns, Explanations, and Interventions

Fourth Edition

Marc Riedel and Wayne Welsh

Reviews and Awards

"The ideal book for this course needs to touch on a wide variety of violence, causation, and patterns. This text does a really good job of covering these topics, and the tripartite approach of examining patterns, causes, and prevention flows rather nicely."--Carol Higgins O'Brien, University of Massachusetts Lowell

"This text provides a well-researched and comprehensive discussion of the history of criminal violence in the United States, contemporary violent activities, types of violence, and governments' responses to violence."--Abu Mboka, California State University, Stanislaus

"Criminal Violence offers a broad survey of violence by both type and context, and its 'tripartite approach' of patterns, explanations, and interventions is logical and intuitive. The book is clearly written and user friendly."-James Densley, Metropolitan State University