Book Review: Significant Cases in Criminal Procedure

• Author: Audrey Guinchard
• Published date: 01 September 2006
• Date: 01 September 2006
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0734016806292925
• Subject Matter: Articles

models, is critically examined, and an alternative explanation, the common cause model, is

put forth. R. Senechal de la Roche examines modern lynchings in chapter 13. He defines

lynching as “a form of collective violence characterized by informal organization and a logic

of individual liability” (p. 215). He describes three major elements of the social geometry of

lynchings: social polarization, strong and unequal partisanship, and third-party solidarity.

Hate violence is the topic for chapter 14, written by M. S. Hamm. He asserts that hate

violence is a heterogeneous phenomenon that occurs in nearly all human communities and

that there is little consensus on how hate crime is defined. He examines the neo-Nazi skin-

heads as a case example and then reviews containment theory and social learning theory as

possible explanations for this behavior.

In chapter 15, C. Hewitt discusses terrorist violence and distinguishes it from other types of

violence because it has a social collective purpose rather than a personal/individual one. He

focuses on two types of terrorism—national-separatist and revolutionary-leftist—and illustrates

his discussion with five examples: EOKA in Cyprus, the Irish Republican Army in Northern

Ireland, the ETA in the Basque provinces, the Tupanoros in Uruguay, and the Red Brigades in

Italy. Finally, he discusses the threat of terrorism posed by al Qaeda in the United States.

In Part 4, the editors reiterate that their original goal in presenting these theoretical

perspectives was to “allow for a fruitful integration of points of view” that would lead to a

“comprehensive theory of violence and a clear picture of next steps in the empirical testing

of ideas” related to violence (p. 251). However, they conclude that a rather muddy picture

has emerged, indicating that “a comprehensive evidence-based theory of violence faces sig-

nificant challenges at this time” (p. 251). They then apply five criteria of a good theory—

parsimony, originality, generalizability, testability, and validity—to the theories presented

in this book and critically examine how well each author has achieved the goals set before

them. They indicate that the authors often treat violence as a variation of crime rather than

a separate entity, leading to a disconnect between the theory and empirical studies. In addi-

tion, there was little agreement about how to define violence. The theories also vary con-

siderably in their focus on the individual or social structures, free will or external forces,

psychological or social variables, perpetrators or victims, thus making the integration of

these theories extremely challenging. Recommendations for future theoretical development

and research conclude the book.

This volume serves as an excellent introduction to various sociological/criminological

theories of violence and should promote discussion and further research among its readers.

Robert N. Baker

Ohio Department of Mental Health, Columbus

Hemmens, C., Worrall, J., & Thompson, A. (2004). Significant Cases in Criminal

Procedure. Los Angeles: Roxbury.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016806292925

As clearly indicated by the title of its introduction—“The Supreme Court and the

Police”—this book covers the investigatory stage of a typical course on criminal procedure.

266 Criminal Justice Review