When Crime Waves

Abstract

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