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Toward a Criminology of Disaster -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- About the Authors -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- 1 The Case for a Criminology of Disaster -- Introduction -- Definition of Disaster -- Disaster Types and Phases -- The Sociology of Disaster -- The Need for a Criminology of Disaster -- Applicable Criminological Theories -- Social Disorganization Theory -- Rational Choice Theory -- Routine Activity Theory -- General Strain Theory -- Other Theories of Crime -- The Remainder of This Book -- References -- 2 Conceptualizing Fear in the Disaster Context -- Introduction -- What Do We Know About Fear? -- Social Concern and Fear -- Socially Constructed Fear -- Rumor and Fear -- Normlessness, Decivilization, and Fear -- Conclusion -- References -- 3 Property Crime in Disaster -- Introduction -- The Sociological Perspective -- The Criminological Perspective: Different Methodology, Different Conclusions -- Social Disorganization Theory: The Whole Story? -- Not Just Katrina, Not Just New Orleans -- What About Informal Guardianship? -- Is there Room for General Strain Theory? -- Conclusion -- References -- 4 Interpersonal Violence in Disaster -- Introduction -- How Do Criminologists Explain Violence? -- Types of Interpersonal Violence in Disaster -- Murder -- Hate Crime -- Rape and Sexual Assault -- Child Abuse -- Domestic Violence -- Explaining Interpersonal Violence in Disaster: Routine Activity Theory -- Explaining Interpersonal Violence in Disaster: General Strain Theory -- Theories of Victimization -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 Fraud in Disaster -- Introduction -- What Is Fraud? How Can We Explain It? -- Individual Disaster Frauds -- Contractor Fraud -- Price Gouging and Profiteering -- Disaster Benefit Fraud -- Corruption -- Corporate Disaster Fraud -- Insurance Company Fraud

This book puts forward a comprehensive criminology of disaster by drawing - and building - upon existing theories which attempt to explain disaster crime. Although antisocial behaviour in disasters has long been viewed as a rarity, the authors present ample evidence that a variety of crime occurs in the wake of disaster. Frailing and Harper's explorations of property crime, interpersonal violence and fraud during disaster reveal the importance of methodological approaches to understanding these phenomena. They highlight the need for the application of social disorganization, routine activity and general strain theories of crime in the development of disaster crime prevention strategies. An accessible and detailed study, this book will have particular appeal for both students and scholars of criminology, sociology, disaster studies and emergency management.

Disaster sociology has a rich and undeniably valuable history. Among other things, it has revealed much about the behavior of disaster survivors. In recent years, criminologists have turned their attention and the discipline's theories, methods, and data sources to understanding behavior in the wake of disasters and have come to a number of additional and sometimes different conclusions than did sociologists. In this article, we examine property crime in the wake of some recent and high-profile disasters. We find short-term increases in burglary after a number of disasters, ostensibly challenging some long-held notions in disaster sociology. We contend that the use of criminological methods including secondary analysis of extant data to understand behavior after disasters provides a more nuanced and accurate picture of postdisaster behavior and conclude with a call for inclusion of these theories, methods, and data sources in disaster studies more widely.

What is the meaning of violence? -- The measurement of violence -- Who are victims of violence? -- Interpersonal violence -- Institutional violence -- Collective and group violence -- Political/state violence -- Interpersonal theories of violence -- Institutional and structural theories of violence -- Is peace possible?