Book Review: Victimizing Vulnerable Groups: Images of Uniquely High-Risk Crime Targets

• Author: Gretchen Pendell
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016805284507
• Published date: 01 September 2005
• Date: 01 September 2005
• Subject Matter: Articles

Court’s definition of probablecause. Next, the authors give a thorough explanation of proba-

ble cause. Probable cause is always required in the following scenarios: arrests with warrants,

arrests without warrants, searches and seizures of property with warrants, and searches and

seizures of property without warrants. When warrants are required, the probable cause deter-

mination is made by the magistrate charged with issuing the warrant; when warrants are not

used, the officer makes the probable cause determination. When police make an arrest, the

probable cause determination concerns whether an offense has been committed and whether

the suspect did it. In cases of searches, the probable cause determination concerns whether

the items to be seized are linked to the criminal activity and whether they can be located in a

particular place to be searched. Officers must know for arrests to be validthat probable cause

determinations must be made. The chapter concludes with briefs of all the significant cases in

the area of probable cause.

Chapter 5, “Standards for the Use of Force,” is another informative chapter. Almost every

state has a law or regulation regarding police use of force. The American Law Institute

adopted a rule that states “a police officer may use such force as is reasonably necessary to

effect the arrest, to enter premises to effectthe arrest, or to prevent the escape from custody of

an arrested person.” This chapter illustrates the cases that set the precedent for instances

when officers may use deadly force. The chapter further illustrates the cases that set the stan-

dard for nondeadly force.

This book is relevant to criminal justice majors, especially those going into the law

enforcement profession because it helps explain, by the use of case law,procedures that offi-

cers must follow to build cases for successful prosecution. Also, this book is important

because of U.S. Code 42, Section 1983 lawsuits. The 1983 lawsuits are a significant tool

because they protect citizens who have had their civilrights infringed on by an officer acting

under the color of authority. If police officersdo not follow case law, it is a possibility that the

officer will be held civically liable for his or her actions as well as the agency employing the

officer. Officers must be especially cautious in performing their duties by the policies and

procedures set forth by the department. Officers must have a general understanding of case

law and must be able to identify the significant landmark cases that are pertinent to the area of

criminal procedure.

Students who are planning to have a career in law enforcement should have working

knowledge of the issues contained in this book. This book is excellently composed because it

presents to the reader summaries of the opinions along with analyses and explanations. This

book gives students a better understanding of the importance of legal holdings, explains the

Court’s holdings, and places each case in context with the Court’s other decisions. In sum,

this book is a thought-provoking evaluation of criminal procedure and is guaranteed to

inform and enlighten the reader.

Tiffany Stokes

University of Southern Mississippi

Victimizing Vulnerable Groups: Images of Uniquely High-Risk Crime Targets, by Charisse

Tia Maria Coston (Ed.). Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. pp. xvii, 387.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016805284507

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