When Crime Waves

Vince Sacco is a professor in the department of sociology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. His research interests are in criminology and urban sociology. His interests relate to the study of criminology, as well as the study of public perceptions of and reactions to crime. In approaching criminology, his work emphasizes the study of "criminal events" and investigates why some people rather than others are more likely to be victimized by crime; when and where crimes occur; and why the police, lawmakers and members of the general public think about crime as they do. He has published several books including The Criminal Event 2/e Wadsworth, 2002, Advances in Criminological Theory (The Process & Structure of Crime: Criminal Events & Crime Analysis) Transaction Press, 2001, (with R.F. Meier and L.W. Kennedy), Crime Victims in Context, Roxbury Publishing, 1998, (with L.W. Kennedy). .

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