Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime - by Irvin Waller (Hardcover)

About the Book

Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime is not just about the solid violence prevention science but for the first time the secrets of how to transform our world to get that science used. It presents strategies to get smart investment in ending violent crime instead of mis...

Book Synopsis

Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime is not just about the solid violence prevention science but for the first time the secrets of how to transform our world to get that science used. It presents strategies to get smart investment in ending violent crime instead of misspending on law enforcement and jails.

Review Quotes

Awesome publication, a must-read!

Criminology professor Waller, a leading authority on victims' rights, does a solid, jargon-free job of explaining achievable strategies for reducing violent crime, though the utopian goal of "ending" it is just rhetoric. After reviewing the toll violent crime continues to exact, Waller moves on to analyses of why traditional law enforcement approaches have not worked, noting, for instance, that having police deal with social and health issues such as homelessness and mental illness is not an effective use of resources. Waller pulls together numerous studies that demonstrate the impact of difficult early childhood on future crime, as well as the benefits of social structure investments for youth. While the author meets his stated goal of showcasing "the effective solutions, the essentials for implementation, and some of the secrets for getting buy-in," American readers may remain skeptical that any meaningful reforms are likely to come on a national level, given the current political climate, which also affects funding of local initiatives. Nonetheless, this remains a conversation starter that can only make progress more likely.

Violent crime harms individuals, families, and communities. It divides social and political discourse and is incredibly expensive to taxpayers. Irvin Waller spent a career studying and advocating for crime prevention and for victims of crime, and in Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime he provides a clear-eyed vision for violence reduction. From smarter use of the criminal justice system to helping youth flourish to effective national and municipal policies, Waller reveals how we can reduce harm by preventing violence in the first place and how we can achieve this goal with rational and affordable investments. Crime scholars, criminal justice practitioners, and policy makers will all benefit from reading this book and acting on its recommendations.

About the Author

Irvin Waller, PhD, is emeritus professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa. He has a long history of being consulted on crime policy and victim rights by political leaders on every continent and by international organizations, including the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank. His passion and knowledge have made him a featured speaker and media resource around the world in English, French and Spanish. Waller first addressed crime prevention and rights for crime victims in Burglary: The Victim and the Public (1978). This influenced his work as a senior official for the Canadian government where he was in charge of presenting research that led to the abolition of the death penalty, the control of firearms and first policies for victims of crime. It brought him into the small network of pioneers of the US and international movement to protect rights for victims of crime. His trail blazing work to get the UN General Assembly to recognize rights for victims earned him multiple awards, including from the US National Organization for Victim Assistance. This magna carta for victim rights is influencing advances across the world still today. In 1994, he became the founding director general of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, established by Canada and France and affiliated with the UN. His leadership brought notoriety to the Centre and funding from the US Department of Justice, the British Home Office, and other governments in Europe. He was honored with the Captain of Crime Prevention Award by the Belgian Ministry of the Interior in 1996 and recognition from the Centre´s supporting governments in 2000. He has served on task forces in South Africa (for the Mandela government), Canada and the USA and been recognized by Mexico in 2016 for his contributions to crime policy in Latin America. He has led the World Society of Victimology and the International Organization for Victim Assistance, both in special consultative status with ECOSOC. He has served on the board and advised international children's rights and urban safety organizations. He is the author of Smarter Crime Control: A Guide to a Safer Future for Citizens, Communities and Politicians (R&L, 2013), Rights for Victims of Crimes: Rebalancing Justice (R&L, 2010) and Less Law, More Order: The Truth about Reducing Crime (2006).