Book Review: Quantum holographic criminology: Paradigm shifts in criminology, law, and transformative justice

• Author: Johannes Wheeldon
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016814568554
• Published date: 01 June 2015
• Date: 01 June 2015
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

Following a rapid increase in crime, President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized the development of

The Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice on July 23, 1965, which the

authors posit was the birth of fear of crime research. Lane et al. do an excellent job of running

through the last 45 plus years, analyzing and synthesizing all of the available research. Then, evi-

dence provided by broad studies is examined against crime-specific research. Researchers are now

looking to offender–victim based studies that reveal strangers and familiars in relation to victim’s

fear of crime. Next, gender-related research is examined and the many different areas remaining

untouched or underdeveloped within this specific area. Continuing their review of fear of crime

research, Lane et al. take a look at fear of crime research in relation to age, race/ethnicity, and socio-

economic status. More detail is given to physical vulnerability and social vulnerability and how

those two affect fear of crime in differing ages, races, and socioeconomic statuses. There is a review

of research with regard to specific contexts and the effect each may have on fear of crime. Personal

experience with crime, indirect experiences, and community related contexts all have some research

supporting a correlation to fear of crime. In keeping with the authors’ visions for creating stand-

alone material, a chapter involving physical, psychological, behavioral, and social effects stemming

from fear of crime adds to the abundance of material available in one resource. Though some spe-

cifics are examined, a great deal of research is deemed in need for any solidarity to be reached. Lane

et al. believe continued review, compilation, and examination of the available research is necessary,

as well as, extending and expanding boundaries that current research has in place.

This book provides an overview of current fear of crime research. Also, anyone interested in fear

of crime research could begin where Lane et al. reveal gaps in existing fear of crime data. In its

entirety, there is an in-depth look at a fairly new area of crime research, but the authors posit, and

I agree, the book may be used on a chapter-by-chapter basis. The chapters may stand alone and pro-

vide a perfect starting point for anyone wishing to embark upon fear of crime research.

Milovanovic, D. (2014).

Quantum holographic criminology: Paradigm shifts in criminology, law, and transformative justice. Durham: Carolina

Academic Press. 260 pp. $32.00, ISBN: 1611634814.

Reviewed by: Johannes Wheeldon, Norwich University, Northfield, VT, USA

DOI: 10.1177/0734016814568554

Dragan Milovanovic has made significant contributions to criminological theory, the sociology of

law, and penology, alongside broader attempts to understand the power of the postmodern critique.

In Quantum Holographic Criminology: Paradigm Shifts in Criminology, Law, and Transformative

Justice, Milovanovic (2014) applies key developments in quantum physics to criminology, law, and

justice. He argues too few criminologists are embracing the quantum revolution and remain stuck in

the Newtonian inspired, atomistic, and individualistic ‘‘classical-materialist’’ paradigm. That a field

requiring so much high-level math should inspire a criminologist who has spent decades disputing

the value of and reliance upon numeric data is fascinating.

Although the complex nature of this quantum-based inquiry makes it difficult to summarize, it

relies upon three key ideas. The first is drawn from Quantum mechanics (QM; pp. 3–47). QM posits

that while all entities exist as both a particle and a wave, the wave–particle duality of energy and

matter remains undefined until the moment someone engages them. Observation and/or measure-

ment force these entities to become one thing or the other. Accepting this duality (and the

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