Jack & Jill, Why They Kill: Saving Our Children, Saving Ourselves [Hardcover]

James E. Shaw (Author)

Book Description

A groundbreaking book by the leading authority in the field of adolescent violence, written for parents and educators.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. James E. Shaw earned his Ph.D. degree from the Claremont Graduate University and received the Phi Delta Kappa "Best Dissertation of the Year" award for his pioneering study of children incarcerated in state prisons for murder and homicide. His 4-year in-person/in-prison research of 103 girls and boys was the subject of his doctoral dissertation. He has been in the field of education for over twenty years and, in addition to being a teacher, has served as a public school law specialist for the Los Angeles County Office of Education and Director of Child Welfare for the Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District. A member of the American Bar Association and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, he directed the Truancy Court, at the Norwalk Superior Court, and prosecuted students and parents. He designed and implemented the highly-regarded and much-praised Juvenile Citation Program for the Norwalk La Mirada USD, which enabled police officers to c! ome onto campuses and issue citations into Norwalk Court to law-breaking students.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: Onjinjinkta Publishing (April 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892714086
• ISBN-13: 978-1892714084
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,264,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. James E. Shaw is a Criminal Court-certified Expert Witness and the author of the nationally-acclaimed book, Jack and Jill, Why They Kill. He is also the editor of the renowned web log, "Gang Times" (www.gangtimes.blogspot.com). He is Associate Member No. 00711062 of the American Bar Association and conducts MCLE seminars for lawyers. He also works as a Trainer for the United States Court Federal Public Defender Training Branch.

As part of the case team, he works nationwide with attorneys in Case Consultation, Litigation Support, Deposition, Trial Preparation, and Report Writing. His past public cases range from celebrity ones (homicide in the Conga Room Club owned by actors Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Smits) to a U.S. Navy Court-Martial gang case to a federal court gang bank heist matter to West Point Military Academy gang incidents to school-related child sexual abuse occurrences to a Uzi-assault event resulting in triple murders to a gang assault-with-deadly-weapon on Los Angeles Police Officers.

He is a former public school administrator and former prosecutor at the Norwalk Superior Court's (CA) Truancy Court. He is the creator of the "Homicidally-at-Risk Adolescent Profile" (HARAP) instrument, used by the Law Office of the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender, and the B.R.A.V.E. ("Be Resilient Avoid Violence Everywhere") violence education and prevention curriculum, cited by the FBI/ATF as an intervention "model of best community practices." As part of his research for his doctorate degree, he spent four years conducting in-person/in-prison interviews of 103 girls and boys incarcerated in state youth prisons for committing homicide and murder.

He is also a consultant and television personality for "Homegirls," a documentary for HBO on female gangs, co-produced by Father Gregory Boyle, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Luis Colina.

Dr. Shaw, as a result of his research and writings, is a regular guest on broadcast media and has been on the NBC Today Show; Good Morning America; MSNBC Live With Mitch Albom; CNN; CBS EyeWitness News; Associated Press Radio; The Bill O'Reilly Show; and some 300 other radio and nationally-syndicated media outlets. His law class, "Administration of Justice: Juvenile Delinquency and Legal Procedures," was one of the most-populated courses in the police science curriculum at El Camino College, California's largest community college. He is on the faculty of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where he teaches Mental Health Law.

He is currently at work on a forthcoming nonfiction work titled, GANGrene: The Fort Hood Shooter and the U.S. Army's Other National Security Risks.

Dr. Shaw's new novel, Girl Sinner, Lady Saint: A Diva Redeemed (358 pp.), based on true events in the life of a female teenager who served a decade-long sentence in youth prison and emerged to become a worldwide Hip Hop singing sensation, desperate to keep her past from colliding with her present, was released nationwide on December 9, 2009 by PublishAmerica, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It can happen to any parent, September 13, 2000

By 

J. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jack & Jill, Why They Kill: Saving Our Children, Saving Ourselves (Hardcover)

One of the most eye-opening (and sobering) aspects of this powerful book is the proof that teen killers and victims are not always "somebody else's kids." Dr. Shaw makes it painfully clear that all kinds of "average" families are touched every day by adolescent violence. We have to do something about this before it's too late. The author's advice is down-to-earth, practical, and meaningful -- you don't have to be a Super Parent to be able to follow his plan. And any parent who takes this book to heart will not only raise a happier and healthier child, but gain immense satisfaction from becoming the best parent possible. Lives are literally at stake here. I hope every parent of kids at risk will read this book and adopt its program before it's too late. For that matter, I think EVERY parent who cares about the safety and emotional well-being of his or her children should read this book. After all, parenting is the most important responsibility and opportunity we have in this life.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ FOR PARENTS, November 15, 2000

By 

Georgia Carpenter (A Mom in Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jack & Jill, Why They Kill: Saving Our Children, Saving Ourselves (Hardcover)

I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Dr. Shaw about his research for Jack & Jill, Why They Kill and I can tell you, he is a very honest and genuine man. When I first saw the book I wasn't interested at all in reading about "kids killing kids", but I did read it, and the more I did, the more I realized that the information provided for parents was unequalled!! Now, I'm a great MOM! I've raised 5, yes FIVE, children and they are all great people!! However, the insight that Dr. Shaw shares is so valuable I would use it all if I could start the children raising process all over again. But actually, I can! I intend to use his suggestions with my grandkids as soon as they are old enough to talk!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory Reading For Those Who Want to Help Our Youth, September 4, 2000

By 

Honorable Cynthia Loo Haffner (Los Angeles, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jack & Jill, Why They Kill: Saving Our Children, Saving Ourselves (Hardcover)

I was recently appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court, Juvenile Division. On July 3, 2000 I presided over my first case involving a child who allegedly killed another. I can't describe the utter despair I felt reviewing the case, and the thoughts that gnawed at me --- could this tragedy have been prevented? I've been almost obsessive, trying to learn more about why kids commit crimes, why they kill, which led me to Dr. Shaw's book. The book is comprised of information obtained by Dr. Shaw over years of interviews, and reinterviews of kids who are incarcerated at the California Youth Authority - the equivalent of state prison for minors who commit the most heinous crimes. Of the many resources I've reviewed, I've found Dr. Shaw's book the MOST helpful. Many of the other pieces I've reviewed I've found too scholarly, too academic, too removed from what is going on with these kids. Dr. Shaw knows these kids and these families, having worked with this population for many years. I bought a copy of Dr. Shaw's book and gave a copy of it to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, Juvenile Division. There is an alarming increase in violent crime in Los Angeles County, much of it reportedly due to gang activity. The juvenile court has been approached by law enforcement, and other members of the community to act. I know the information in Dr. Shaw's book contains is invaluable as we try to set in place an early intervention court, designed to minimize the kids who turn to criminal behavior. Dr. Shaw's book gives us direction, and hope. It's mandatory reading for anyone who cares about our kids.