Traditional criminology often eschews the problem of crime, preferring to worry about criminality. This leaves students and practitioners with nowhere to learn the theories and practical techniques to address the crime problems they face. Into this breach steps The Handbook of Crime Science, taking an impressively 'broad spectrum' approach to crime. The editors have done a sterling job of bringing together emergent, exciting scholars to explore the current and future state of crime science. This is a must-have book for crime researchers and practitioners.
Jerry Ratcliffe, Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Director of the Center for Security and Crime Science at Temple University, USA
Richard Wortley, Aiden Sidebottom, Nick Tilley and Gloria Laycock have produced an outstanding contribution to the study and control of crime. Encompassing numerous disciplines, a wide range of crime forms, and a diversity of research methods the contributors to the comprehensive work show how we can make progress against crime. The Handbook of Crime Science should be read by anyone who is concerned about crime.
John Eck, Professor in the School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, USA
The walls around criminology have been breached. Diverse scientists are welcome to enter. Hooray for crime science!
Ken Pease, Professor of Policing, Derby University, UK
Finally, we have a book that clearly explains the breadth and depth of crime science, philosophically, theoretically and historically positions the discipline, and identifies its role as a unique but interconnected academic enterprise. I highly recommend this book to all practitioners, policy makers, inventors, academics and anyone who has an interest in preventing of crime and increasing security.
Anna Stewart, Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Australia
This is not a book about criminology. Its more than that. Criminologists have for decades espoused the value of interdisciplinary approaches and the need for the field to inform and guide the reduction of crime and its pernicious effects on society. But, these pursuits have for the most part been unsuccessful because criminology has mistaken empiricism for science, statistics for solutions, and only paid lip service to interdisciplinarity through the repetitive use of a narrow range of social science theories. In boldly defining and presenting to its readers the notion of crime science the editors and uniquely curated selection of authors herein identify an expansive path forward for the field in a way that may save it from becoming moribund and irrelevant. It unabashedly draws from scientific topics and approaches of the 21st century -- engineering, genetics, architecture, forensics, cybersecurity, etc. -- to establish a truly interdisciplinary identity for criminology that respects its potential to enlighten researchers about the causes of crime while informing and guiding the policy and interventions that will be needed in the years to come. Researchers, students, and practitioners need this book, as does the field itself.
Volkan Topalli, Professor, Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology , The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, USA
