Book Review: Outlawed: Between security and rights in a Bolivian city

Published date01 December 2014
DOI10.1177/1057567714543365
Date01 December 2014
AuthorChristopher Birkbeck
Subject MatterBook Reviews
description, it is not clear why final data from the second sample is only 366 respondents (instead
of the 2,000 as randomly selected). If it is due to nonresponse, it needs to be stated and limitations
addressed. Both samples are regionally based; the surveys are cross sectional, and the study is lim-
ited to young drivers of selected age-groups. The author does admit limitations of these data and
points out the need to expand and replicate the study using better data.
Aside from using two independent samples, the theoretical concepts are mostly operationalized
using measurements built upon prior literature. Lin provides detailed and fair citation to the
sources of these studies and the origins of the measurement are well covered in the text and listed
in the references.
In discussing the statistical tool used for testing the hypothesized model, Lin does an excellent job
introducing the methodology and the rationale for using structural equations modeling technique.
He lays out the logistics of the method and the strengths as well as limitations of the tool for this
study. The language used to describe the methodology is concise, clear-cut, and to the po int. But
perhaps being the initial edition, the book contains quite a few typos and spelling errors, which
could create misunderstanding as well as unnecessary distraction for the readers.
The book makes significant contributions to the literature in a number of ways: As pointed out
by the author, the study is unique, as it approaches aggressive and risky driving from the criminal
justice perspective. Furthermore, the study tests the utility of self-control theory in predicting
criminal and analogous behaviors—it proposes an integrated framework of self-control with psy-
chology’s general aggression model in hypothesizing mediational and moderating processes in
which components of self-control predict aggressive personality and driving conditions that may
interactandinturnleadtoaggressivedrivingbehavior.
Overall, the author does a very good job in delivering and illustrating highly complex theoretical
and methodological concepts. The study is well done, and with some caveats, the findings are
generally convincing. The study has policy implications in regard to developing more effective
programs to prevent and reduce aggressive and dangerous driving inc idents.
In sum, the author proposes a theoretically informed mediational and moderating model linking
the criminological concept of self-control with psychological traits, temperamental and situational
driving conditions to aggressive driving behavior. He tests the model using appropriate methodo-
logical tool against empirical data. The study yields generally convincing results and important
policy implications. The survey data used in testing the model, however, are somewhat limited;
the same is true with the cross-sectional design and limited measurements of the theoretical con-
cepts. Future replication and further study is needed. Overall, however, the study is well presented.
Although it requires better proof reading, the writing as a whole is succinct, clear, and easy to com-
prehend. The book serves as a useful and worthy read for researchers, students, policy makers as
well as persons working with at-risk population of aggressive and risky drivers to help them
reduce incidents of dangerous driving as implicated.
Goldstein, D. M. (2012). Outlawed: Between security and rights in a Bolivian city. Durham, NC: Duke University
Press. 327 pp. US$24.95, ISBN-13: 978-0822353119.
Reviewed by: Christopher Birkbeck, University of Salford, United Kingdom
DOI: 10.1177/1057567714543365
In an influential essay published 20 years ago, political scientist Guillermo O’Donnell used a
simple, color-coded, mapping model to describe the different levels of penetration and
416 International Criminal Justice Review 24(4)

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