Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime [Hardcover]

Eric W. Hickey (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076192437X | ISBN-13: 978-0761924371 | Publication Date: July 22, 2003 | Edition: 1

Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime Edited by: Eric Hickey, Ph.D. California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno, CA California State University, Fresno Fresno City College Description: Click ‘Additional Materials’ for downloadable samples "As a good encyclopedia does, the Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime brings together articles that offer diverse insights into the topic, while at the same time giving the reader a feel for its overall scope." --AGAINST THE GRAIN "This carefully researched and excellently presented compendium will be a welcome addition to all libraries." --REFERENCE & USER SERVICES QUARTERLY Murder and violent crime take many forms. Who are the perpetrators? What do they have in common and how are they different? The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime presents the latest research, insightful commentary, and "true crime" case studies to help in the understanding and deterrence of one of society's gravest problems. Although there is no easy or single answer to the question of why people kill or commit violent crimes, this important new reference work provides a wealth of information to create a background for cogent analysis. Written for a Wide Audience The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime is intended for a wide audience including school, public, and university libraries. It will also prove invaluable to those who report violent crime's unfolding stories, such as mass media news outlets, television and radio stations, editorial offices of magazines, and newspapers. Criminal justice professionals will also find it valuable and fascinating balance of academic research and "true crime" material they can relate to in their own experience. Edited by the World's Leading Authority on Multiple Homicide Offenders Eric W. Hickey, Ph.D., enjoys a worldwide reputation for his work with serial killers, sex crimes, workplace violence, stalking, and the Unabomber case. A professor of criminal psychology at California State University, Fresno and adjunct professor for Fresno City College and the California School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Hickey has published and lectured extensively on the etiology of violence and serial crime. His book Serial Murderers and Their Victims, 2 nd Edition is used as a primary text in colleges and universities and by law enforcement in the study of the nature of violence, criminal personalities and victim-offender relationships. Hickey's research is widely quoted and often is the subject of interviews in the media including National Public Radio, BBC, The Discovery and Learning Channels, Larry King Live, 20/20, and Court TV. He recently developed a cyber-stalking training course for the National District Attorney's Association and the American Prosecutor's Research Institute. His latest research, a study of 220 victims of stalking, examines the psychology and classification of stalkers, victim-offender relationships, intervention and deterrence strategies for potential offenders, and modes of victim assistance. Contributions From Over 100 Experts in the Field The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime contains 200 entries covering long-documented classifications such as Serial Killers and Organized Crime to cutting edge topics of Cyber-Stalking, Kids Who Kill, and Terrorism. Leading educators, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and criminal justice professionals share their experience and insights on everything from Aggression and Antisocial Personality Disorder to the infamous Zodiac Murders. A Unique Compilation The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime explores the topic in great detail, looking at a multitude of issues from all angles--academic and professional research, theoretical background, and actual case studies. This combined approach provides a well-rounded overview with both theory and its historical evidence.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up--This volume covers all manner of violence--mostly American--from "Cyberstings" to "In Cold Blood" and "Drug Trade" to the "Beltway Snipers." The more than 200 entries range in length from one paragraph to several pages with multiple subheadings. Arrangement is alphabetical, with a few anomalies ("Violence in the Media" is found between "Timothy McVeigh" and "Medical Murders"). However, a helpful "Reader's Guide" categorizes entries by topic at the beginning of the book. Almost all entries have see-also references and solid suggestions for further reading; very few have photographs. The preface is good reading as it puts violent crime in the U.S. into perspective and gives narrative attention to some tough terms and concepts. Hickey has assembled an extensive set of contributors, and the articles range from straightforward and dull to slightly more dynamic. The most interesting and useful elements are the appendixes. They cover historical criminological theorists and their tenets, several charts on serial killers (including monikers, which is helpful for ready reference), and domestic and international organized crime. A glossary explains some necessary terms in paragraph format. This volume has a broader scope than similar sources and will be particularly useful in high schools with criminal-justice programs.--Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Edited by a specialist in criminal psychology, this volume contains more than 200 signed entries from more than 116 contributors on a variety of topics related to violent crime and murder. The majority of the alphabetically arranged entries can be divided into two categories: biographies of murderers or violent groups and overviews of theories of violence, legal processes, or types of violence. There are also several short articles on issues that do not address violence directly but are related somehow (e.g., The Brady Bill). The biographical entries range from less than one page for Al Capone and Jack the Ripper to four or five pages for Charles Manson and Osama bin Laden. While the focus is on American criminals and crime, there are several entries for international figures (for example, Andrei Chikatilo, the "Russian Ripper"). The articles on types of violence average three to four pages and cover the expected topics (Rape, School shootings, Serial murder, and Stalking are but a few). Articles on court or legal procedure also average three to four pages and are written in clear language. The most interesting component is the inclusion of articles related to theories of violence, such as Aggression: Psychological theories and Violent behavior: Personality theories. This gives the book a psychological and sociological slant that sets it apart from similar publications, such as Encyclopedia of American Crime (2d ed., Facts On File, 2000).

Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime is a good single-volume introductory source. It is written in a very readable style and presents controversial topics without bias. It is well indexed and includes listings of murderers and organized crime figures in the appendixes. For libraries that own the three-volume Violence in America (Scribner, 1999), this would be a useful companion purchase as it contains information from recent headlines (for example, the Beltway Snipers and Andrea Yates) and provides better coverage of the psychological aspects of violence and crime. A superior purchase for academic and public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 550 pages
• Publisher: SAGE Publications; 1 edition (July 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076192437X
• ISBN-13: 978-0761924371
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,060,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than 100 experts in the fields of criminology, September 19, 2003

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime (Hardcover)

More than 200 entries comprise the Encyclopedia Of Murder & Violent Crime, which presents the latest research and insight into the nature of society's deepest ills and worst perpetrators. Under the skilled editorship of criminal psychology expert Eric Hickey (Adjunct Professor for Fresno City College and the California School of Professional Psychology), more than 100 experts in the fields of criminology, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and anthropology contribute to this scholarly and sober resource, featuring topics that range from "aggression" and "cults"; to "juvenile crime", "kidnaping", "sex crimes", "vigilantism", and more. The Encyclopedia Of Murder & Violent Crime is a highly recommended addition to academic library reference collections in the field of Criminology.