Book Review: J. Ptacek Restorative Justice and Violence Against Women New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2010. vii, 292 pp. $39.95. ISBN 978-0-19-533548-4

• Date: 01 June 2011
• Published date: 01 June 2011
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016810385300
• Author: Lana A. McDowell
• Subject Matter: Articles

Critiques are also presented, which demonstrate that individual crime prevention approaches sometimes

fall short of expectations, lack funding for implementation, and have difficult-to-measure effects. The

limitations of these individual interventions serve to illustrate a main message of the book—a compre-

hensive approach to reduce crime must involve a wide range of suitable measures from each of the

major crime prevention approaches, and it must be delivered by a number of different institutions

through a partnership approach that centers on the mobilization and empowerment of the community.

The last section of the tex tbook seeks to impart practical knowledge a nd skills to readers thro ugh a

process-oriented focus; a necessity in this predominantly appliedfield of study. Chapter 7 discusses the

importance of planning in a crime prevention project, outlining the major phases and steps involved.

Schneider add resses the importance of involv ing the community in the plann ing process; defining and

understandingthe community and its capacityto participate is essentialto the development of aneffec-

tive and realistic crime prevention plan. Schneider also outlines what is involved in preparing a

research proposaland seeking funding. However, a discussionof the preparation of a detailed budget,

an important c omponent of the p roposal proce ss, is missing.

Chapter 8 outlines key factors in the successful implementation of a crime prevention project,

particularly the importance of mobilizing the community, determining the type of organization that

will carry out activities, and sustaining initiatives over time. Successful implementation requires

leadership, coordination, management, and resources and as such it might have been beneficial to

place more emphasis on the need for a permanent responsibility center for crime prevention and

community safety and the various roles it could play in the implementation process.

Finally, chapter 9 explores the steps involved in evaluating and modifying a crime prevention project.

This chapter describes the principles of project evaluation generally, including the different methods

available, and then outlines a detailed guide to planning and implementing assessments. This chapter

ensures readers can acquire the basic skills needed to evaluate a crime prevention project, including how

to write an evaluation proposal and final report. This section encapsulates a second main message of the

book—to address specific crime problems, a systematic approach is required that includes developing a

plan, implementing and sustaining the strategy, and evaluating it to ensure it works.

This textbook represents a comprehensive introduction to the interdisciplinary and applied field of

crime prevention through a learning-centered approach. Discussion questions and exercises place an

emphasis on both critical reflection and the practical application of the topics presented—often encoura-

ging readers to apply text material to their own experiences. In addition, extensive further reading and

Internet resources provide readers with the opportunity to gain more specialist knowledge in areas they

find interesting. Particularly, there is an extensive list of resources provided on the various aspects of the

crime prevention project process for those interested in undertaking this endeavor. Overall, the broad

range of substantive approaches covered coupled with an examination of process-oriented issues make

this crime prevention textbook a useful resource for its intended audience.

J. Ptacek

Restorative Justice and Violence Against Women New York, NY:

Oxford University Press, 2010. vii, 292 pp. $39.95. ISBN 978-0-19-533548-4

Reviewed by: Lana A. McDowell, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA, USA

DOI: 10.1177/0734016810385300

Although the majority of restorative justice literature focuses on the values, practices, and types

of crime restorative justice is used with, Restorative Justice and Violence Against Women provides

additional factors and values of feminist movements such as the battered women’s movement and

216 Criminal Justice Review 36(2)