From the Back Cover
Today the word 'Victim" is used in many different ways. In this book the authors have attempted to provide information on a wide array of crimes within their individual contexts. By presenting the material, in this manner, the authors hope to demonstrate to the reader the range of victimization experiences that crime victims are forced to deal with. The authors believe that this methodology offers a richer and more realistic approach to understanding the process of victimization and the coping mechanisms that victims employ to deal with their particular experiences. Karmen defined victimology as: "The scientific study of victimization, including the relationships between the victims and the offenders, the interactions between victims and the criminal justice system - that is the police, the courts, and corrections officials - and the connection between victims and other societal groups and institutions, such as the media, business, and social movements." (Karmen, 1990) "The uniqueness of this text is the inclusion of issues of victimization not commonly found in existing texts, but worthy of incorporation." — Lee Ross, University of Wisconsin-Parkside

About the Author
Jack McDevitt, M.PA., is associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Criminal justice at Northeastern University, where he also directs the Institute for Research on Race and Justice. Jack is the coauthor, with Jack Levin, of Hate Crimes: The Rising Tide of Bigotry and Bloodshed. He is a coauthor of numerous governmental reports, including Improving the Quality and Accuracy of Bias Crime Statistics Nationally for the Department of Justice. He has been teaching and conducting research at Northeastern for the past 18 years. Judith M. Sgarzi, Ph.D., is currently the program director for criminal justice at Mount Ida College. Dr. Sgarzi is a forensic criminologist who also writes and teaches in the area of criminal thinking patterns and their development. She is a general specialist and has written and presented papers in a wide variety of areas of criminal justice. Currently she is coauthoring a book with Jack McDevitt on police corruption titled The Thin Blue Line.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Giving a voice to the victims in society today this volume was written to raise awareness about the often forgotten victims of crime. Designed to give readers a broader perspective about the experience of victims, this volume provides information on a wide variety of crimes within their individual contexts and demonstrates to readers some of the range of experiences that crime victims are forced to deal with. It addresses victims' support policies and programs and provides a realistic approach to understanding the process of victimization and the broad range of coping mechanisms that victims employ to deal with their particular experience.The volume addresses predators and their targets including serial killers, date rape, professional misconduct, victims of child abuse, female youth gangs, victims of domestic violence and terrorism, hate crime victimization and racial profiling, victims in organizational contexts and responses to victimization.For individuals in criminal justice, psychology and sociology professions with an interest in victims experiences.

FROM THE CRITICS

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