Book Review: Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice 2004

• Published date: 01 May 2005
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016805275695
• Date: 01 May 2005
• Subject Matter: Articles

104 Criminal Justice Review
In chapter 6, “Desisting From Burglary,” the authors say that crime rates decrease with
age. They suggest that young burglars, specifically 15- to 24-year-olds, commit burglary
because it is exciting, other peers socialize them into the lifestyle, and it affords them a life-
style of money and sex. Cromwell and Olson also suggest that labeling plays a lead role in a
youth’s initiation into burglary. They proposed a modified rational choice theory to explain
initiation and cessation of burglary, saying that when burglars get older, they fear severe pun-
ishment. In chapter 7, “Implications for Prevention and Public Policy,” the authors discuss
ways to help curb burglaries. They argue for better programs for youth to help them turn away
from burglary. Implementing stronger youth programs, including drug prevention efforts,
helps keep communities safe. Cromwell and Olson also encourage such programs as Crime
Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and Situational Crime Prevention
(SCP), where communities and neighborhoods are designed to deter burglaries. The book
identifies environmental cues that can be used for targeting hardening and burglary preven-
tion and suggests that police departments and lawmakers can help design better drug-preven-
tion programs and stiffer penalties for burglars.
The book suffers from a number of weaknesses. The study produced a high rate of drug
users, but the question remains if this is an overrepresentation of burglars who are drug users.
A potential Hawthorne effect exists, given the way informants were interviewed on target
selection and then observed in the field about how they selected targets. To varying degrees,
this approach produced responses and inconsistencies with the informants’ answers.
Another interesting aspect of the book was Appendix A, which contained biographies of
“selected informants.” The background of the informants’ upbringing, entrance into crime
and drug use,...