Book Review: Konradi, A. (2007). Taking the Stand: Rape Survivors and the Prosecution of Rapists. Westport, CT: Praeger. x, 227 pp

• Author: Scott N. MacMillan
• Published date: 01 September 2009
• Date: 01 September 2009
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0734016808328681
• Subject Matter: Articles

458 Criminal Justice Review

such as phone booths, convenience stores, and so on may have also had an impact. He takes

fair and reasonably objective review of his own work. This recognition lends validity to the

author’s conclusions.

As the author brings the work to a close, he addresses the clustering of bus stops and

increased criminal activity. The author firmly concedes that bus stop locations do not cause

an increase in crime but that it is arguable that location may be seen as a facilitator for

increasing crime. Furthermore, he brings to light alternative ways to address crime. It was

refreshing to read the author’s support of programs such as the Chicago Area Program,

which sees social control via increased community association rather than attempting to

modify individual behavior.

In the recommendation section of this work, there are assertions not necessarily consistent

with current practice throughout the country. When the author asks “Who is responsible for

transit security?” the work did not include transit agencies with their own police department

such as two in Texas, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Metropolitan Transit Authority

of Harris County. It is noted that the work focused on an area without specialized police pres-

ence. The author makes a strong argument as he demonstrates the lack of quality transit police

services from local jurisdictions. Relying on local law enforcement to render services as

dynamic as transit policing certainly requires some sort of directed effort. However, the issues

cited by the author, such as jurisdictional confusion, reporting and response to crime, police

patrol coverage, crime reporting, and specialized training, have been resolved by the two

transit agencies mentioned. All in all the work provides a solid opening dialogue for discus-

sion of the importance of bus stop location considerations. This book is recommended to

those who are interested in transportation policing in general and is a good example of how

to mix research methodologies. Furthermore, a condensed version of this book highlighting

its main points would be valuable to planning divisions of transit agencies and their respective

law enforcement agencies.

Felix Vara

Metro Transit Police

Konradi, A. (2007). Taking the Stand: Rape Survivors and the Prosecution of Rapists. Westport, CT:

Praeger. x, 227 pp.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016808328681

Amanda Konradi’s work Taking the Stand: Rape Survivors and the Prosecution of Rapists

is significant in that it provides readers with real-life accounts of victims of rape, detailing

their entire experience from the rape and the dilemma of whether to report through their

interactions with the criminal justice system. Konradi’s interest and research in this area

began after her own rape and interaction with the criminal justice system. This book expands

on the small body of literature in this field, with the author’s purpose being “to shed more

light on the experiences of rape survivors and reduce the stigma they experience” (p. 14).

Konradi organizes the book very well, with the topics of each chapter flowing into the next