NCJ Number
225808
Date Published
2007
Length
323 pages
Annotation
In an attempt to teach the general public on how to avoid being victimized by criminals of opportunity, also known as predators, the authors, through their experiences as criminal investigators, provide ideas for prevention, vital tips for recognizing predatory behavior before it happens, and tactics for when one finds themselves in the hands of a predator.
Abstract
This book begins with an introduction to the principles of victimology (the study of victims), which is often the key to solving crimes for investigators, and as these real-life cases demonstrate, it can be used as a powerful tool for crime prevention for the public. By learning to ask the right questions from the standpoint of a potential victim, a victim can begin to think of ways to change their lifestyles in order to reduce risks. After introducing these ideas, the authors apply them to various cases in which they had firsthand knowledge, involving such high-profile criminals as Susan Smith, convicted of drowning her two young sons in a South Carolina lake; Terry Nichols, a longtime suspect as an accomplice in the Oklahoma bombing and convicted to a life sentence; and Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, charged with the abduction of Elizabeth Smart. Also, several lesser-known cases are chronicled, and include interviews of both the victims and criminals showing how if just a few simple questions had been asked prior, the crimes may have been prevented. The authors provide an understanding of the crimes from three different perspectives: the profiler or investigator, the offender, and the victim. Predatory crimes are largely crimes of opportunity. From this book, readers will learn how to minimize opportunities in becoming a victim of a predator. Index