2010 • $38.00 • 356 pp • paper • ISBN: 978-1-59460-775-2 • LCCN 2009044992
Electronic Teacher's Materials availableTags: Sociology of Disaster
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The sudden disruption of the normal flow of human activity in the form of disaster gives rise to both pro-social and antisocial behavior. For some, disaster is an opportunity to take advantage of others’ misfortune and increased vulnerability. Crime and Criminal Justice in Disaster has two principle objectives; to understand why and how crime occurs in the wake of disasters and how the criminal justice system responds to disasters and the crime that follows.
This volume is a collection of original essays by sociologists, criminologists and law enforcement professionals, most of whom have had first-hand experience with the impact of disaster on the criminal justice system. Part 1, Historical and Theoretical Aspects of Disaster and Crime, provides a discussion of crime and disaster in an historical context and proposes a typology that locates certain types of crime in the different phases of disaster. Part 2, Natural Disaster, Disorder and Crime, examines a variety of crimes, such as looting, robbery, drug dealing and fraud in the wake of disasters, with one chapter suggesting that some disasters themselves are crimes. Part 3, The Criminal Justice System Response to Disorder and Disaster, examines specific disasters as case studies from September 11, 2001, through Hurricane Katrina to Mumbai. The nation’s disaster response infrastructure also comes under close scrutiny.
Crime and Criminal Justice in Disaster is exceptionally timely considering the natural disasters which have occurred in the opening years of the 21st century and the ubiquity of the terror threat. These events have led to national and international concern for how the public sector in general and the criminal justice system in particular responds to disasters and crime. While designed primarily as a text for courses in criminal justice, criminology, homeland security and emergency management, the essays also have a broader audience appeal for readers interested in these issues.
“Dee Wood Harper and Kelly Frailing have produced a wide-ranging, extremely interesting, approachable and useful analysis of the connection between disasters and crime and criminal justice, both within the Katrina catastrophe and other major disasters.” — Shirley Laska, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology and Founding Director, Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology (UNO-CHART), University of New Orleans
“In Crime and Criminal Justice in Disaster, Harper and Frailing bring together a high-powered scholarly cast to critically question common sense notions and stereotypes that popularly, politically and historically attempt to link disaster and crime.” — David L. Brunsma, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology and Black Studies, Interim Director of Black Studies, University of Missouri
“This highly readable collection is indispensable not only because it fills a void in our scholarly knowledge, but also because the authors offer practical recommendations for improving the criminal justice system response to extreme events. A must-read for anyone interested in learning more about why crime may occur post-disaster and what communities should do about it.” — Lori Peek, Ph.D. Department of Sociology, Colorado State University, author of Behind the Backlash: Muslim Americans After 9/11
“No one is better situated and qualified in terms of knowledge, experience and empathy for the processes and personal consequences of idsaster than these authors who have contributed to and edited an insightful and incisive text.” — Professor Bill Lindsay, Ph.D., Chair of Psychology, University of Abertay, Dundee, UK, Honorary Chair of Psychology, University of Northumbria, Newcastle, UK.
“By combining historical, theoretical and empirical perspectives, this volume represents a state-of-the-art account of what is known on crime in the wake of disasters and what remains open for future research. The book also provides important insights on criminal justice responses to disasters and will hopefully influence current debates about policy and prevention issues connected with crime in the context of disasters.” — Dietrich Oberwittler, Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, Freiburg/Germany
“[Harper and Frailing] provide an insightful foray into the criminology of disaster… Highly recommended.” — CHOICE Magazine
“They offer an example of 'resilience' that perhaps most hazards researchers didn't have in mind.” — Natural Hazards Observer
The Teacher's Manual is available electronically on a CD or via email. Please contact Beth Hall at bhall@cap-press.com to request a copy.
PowerPoint slides available upon adoption. To view sample slides from the 143-slide presentation, click here. Email bhall@cap-press.com for more information.
If you are a professor teaching in this field you may request a complimentary copy
