Book Review: J. D. Freilich, and G. R. Newman (Eds.) Reducing Terrorism Through Situational Crime Prevention, Crime Prevention Studies Vol. 25. Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press, 2009. 244 pp. $53.50. ISBN: 978-1-881798-93-4

• Author: Julie Kiernan Coon
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567711405764
• Published date: 01 June 2011
• Date: 01 June 2011
• Subject Matter: Articles

While the book does an excellent job of analyzing trends throughout all areas of the world, the

final section devoted to North America is particularly insightful. Despite the fact that the United

States has provided model legislation to end sex trafficking, it is one of the top three destinations

for victims of this crime. Female victims throughout the world are often recruited in local newspa-

pers for nanny or waitress positions in the United States. Once these victims arrive in the United

States, their travel documents are confiscated and they are forced into lives of prostitution.

Mail-order brides may also become victims of sexual abuse. According to the book, mail-order bride

businesses are virtually unregulated and grooms are seldom screened for criminal histories. In some

cases, these brides become victims of spousal prostitution. The book also discusses sex trafficking in

Canada and Mexico. Mexico, which suffers from high levels of official corruption, has been slow to

provide assistance to victims of the sex trade. The book suggests that victims, who perceive the

Mexican Government as corrupt and/or incompetent are often afraid to go to the authorities. Also,

while Mexico has implemented many laws against sex trafficking, these are not uniformly enforced.

This book provides a very comprehensive overview of sex trafficking across the world. Accord-

ing to the book, organized criminal networks are heavily entrenched in this US$36 billion venture.

A total of 70%of the victims of sex trafficking are females and almost half of all victims are chil-

dren. While the United States has been a leader in passing legislation against sex trafficking, it still is

one of the top destinations for this crime. Victims of sex trafficking throughout the world may be

forced into pornography, prostitution, and/or the sex tourism industry. After reading this book, it

is apparent that the demand for these illicit services fuels this illegal criminal enterprise. For exam-

ple, as London prepares to host the Olympic games in 2012, officials can expect to see an increase in

sex trafficking in this part of the world. This book is very eye-opening and would be a useful tool to

facilitate classroom discussions. Because it utilizes a multidisciplinary approach, it would also make

for excellent supplemental reading material for virtually any class that relates to gender and inequal-

ity or transnational organized crime. I strongly recommend this book.

J. D. Freilich, and G. R. Newman (Eds.)

Reducing Terrorism Through Situational Crime Prevention, Crime Prevention Studies Vol. 25. Monsey, NY: Criminal

Justice Press, 2009. 244 pp. $53.50. ISBN: 978-1-881798-93-4

Reviewed by: Julie Kiernan Coon, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI, USA

DOI: 10.1177/1057567711405764

Freilich and Newman are both well-respected professors and researchers who explore a wide range

of problems with specific solutions in their book, Reducing Terrorism Through Situational Crime

Prevention. Joshua Freilich is a professor at John Jay College, the City University of New York and

lead researcher for the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.

Graeme Newman is a distinguished professor at the State University of New York at Albany and

Co-Director for the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. As editors of this book, as well as authors

of select chapters, Freilich and Newman emphasize the utility of Situational Crime Prevention (SCP)

strategies that reduce provocations, reduce rewards, and remove excuses for terrorism, as well as

increase the effort required and risks incurred in committing terrorist acts. The use of rational,

practical, and tailored approaches to preventing various forms of terrorism is the focus of this

25th volume in Crime Prevention Studies.

This book should appeal to a wide audience. Academics and upper-level students of criminal

justice will likely agree that the application of SCP to the problem of terrorism is worthy of explo-

ration and serious consideration. Many of the chapters in this book, however, should also draw the

interest of parties beyond the academic community, particularly government officials, including

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