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Off the Deep End: A History of Madness at Sea
by Nic ComptonConfined in a small space for months on end, subject to ship's discipline and living on limited food supplies, many sailors of old lost their minds – and no wonder. Many still do. The result in some instances was bloodthirsty mutinies, such as the whaleboat Sharon whose captain was butchered and fed to the ship's pigs in a crazed attack in the Pacific. Or mob violence, such as the 147 survivors on the raft of the Medusa, who slaughtered each other in a two-week orgy of violence. So serious was the problem that the Royal Navy's own physician claimed sailors were seven times more likely to go mad than the rest of the population. Historic figures such as Christopher Columbus, George Vancouver, Fletcher Christian (leader of the munity of the Bounty) and Robert FitzRoy (founder of the Met Office) have all had their sanity questioned. More recently, sailors in today's round-the-world races often experience disturbing hallucinations, including seeing elephants floating in the sea and strangers taking the helm, or suffer complete psychological breakdown, like Donald Crowhurst. Others become hypnotised by the sea and jump to their deaths. Off the Deep End looks at the sea's physical character, how it confuses our senses and makes rational thought difficult. It explores the long history of madness at sea and how that is echoed in many of today's yacht races. It looks at the often-marginal behaviour of sailors living both figuratively and literally outside society's usual rules. And it also looks at the sea's power to heal, as well as cause, madness.
Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything
by Kelly Weill&“A deep dive into the world of Flat Earth conspiracy theorists . . . that brilliantly reveals how people fall into illogical beliefs, reject reason, destroy relationships, and connect with a broad range of conspiracy theories in the social media age. Beautiful, probing, and often empathetic . . . An insightful, human look at what fuels conspiracy theories.&” —Science Since 2015, there has been a spectacular boom in a centuries-old delusion: that the earth is flat. More and more people believe that we all live on a pancake-shaped planet, capped by a solid dome and ringed by an impossible wall of ice. How? Why? In Off the Edge, journalist Kelly Weill draws a direct line from today&’s conspiratorial moment, brimming not just with Flat Earthers but also anti-vaxxers and QAnon followers, back to the early days of Flat Earth theory in the 1830s. We learn the natural impulses behind these beliefs: when faced with a complicated world out of our control, humans have always sought patterns to explain the inexplicable. This psychology doesn&’t change. But with the dawn of the twenty-first century, something else has shifted. Powered by Facebook and YouTube algorithms, the Flat Earth movement is growing. At once a definitive history of the movement and an essential look at its unbelievable present, Off the Edge introduces us to a cast of larger-than-life characters. We meet historical figures like the nineteenth-century grifter who first popularized the theory, as well as the many modern-day Flat Earthers Weill herself gets to know, from moms on vacation to determined creationists to neo-Nazi rappers. We discover what, and who, converts people to Flat Earth belief, and what happens inside the rabbit hole. And we even meet a man determined to fly into space in a homemade rocket-powered balloon—whose tragic death is as senseless and absurd as the theory he sets out to prove. In this incisive and powerful story about belief, Kelly Weill explores how we arrived at this moment of polarized realities and explains what needs to happen so that we might all return to the same spinning globe.
Off the Hook: Coping with Addiction (Routledge Revivals)
by Helen BethuneFirst published in 1985, Off the Hook describes all the signs and symptoms of drug addiction, alcoholism or compulsive gambling in teenagers, but more importantly suggests constructive ways parents can help. Teenage disorder, and especially addiction, can cause serious family damage. Fear, guilt and shame can paralyse effective action and even make matters worse. Helen Bethune, drawing on research among recovered addicts, troubled teenagers and suffering families, throws new light on this problem. There is hope, and there are positive steps which parents can take to help their children towards recovery. This book is highly informative and essential reading not only for the afflicted but for all parents fearful of the prevalence of drugs among youngsters today, and for teachers and social workers at every level.
Off the Hook: Coping with Addiction (Routledge Revivals)
by Helen BethuneFirst published in 1985, Off the Hook describes all the signs and symptoms of drug addiction, alcoholism or compulsive gambling in teenagers, but more importantly suggests constructive ways parents can help. Teenage disorder, and especially addiction, can cause serious family damage. Fear, guilt and shame can paralyse effective action and even make matters worse. Helen Bethune, drawing on research among recovered addicts, troubled teenagers and suffering families, throws new light on this problem. There is hope, and there are positive steps which parents can take to help their children towards recovery. This book is highly informative and essential reading not only for the afflicted but for all parents fearful of the prevalence of drugs among youngsters today, and for teachers and social workers at every level.
Off White: Readings on Power, Privilege, and Resistance
by Michelle Fine Lois Weis Linda Powell Pruitt April BurnsWith a fascinating new introduction on the proliferation and development of the field of whiteness studies and updated essays throughout, this much-anticipated second ddition continues to redefine our understanding of race and society. Also inlcludes three maps.
Off White: Readings on Power, Privilege, and Resistance
by Michelle Fine Lois Weis Linda Powell Pruitt April BurnsWith a fascinating new introduction on the proliferation and development of the field of whiteness studies and updated essays throughout, this much-anticipated second ddition continues to redefine our understanding of race and society. Also inlcludes three maps.
Off-White Hollywood: American Culture and Ethnic Female Stardom
by Diane NegraOff-White Hollywood investigates how the 'ethnicity' of white European-American actresses has played a key role in the mythology of American identity and nation building. Negra focuses on key stars of the silent - Colleen Moore and Pola Negri - classical - Sonja Henie and Hedy Lamarr - and post-classical eras - Marisa Tomei and Cher - to demonstrate how each star illuminates aspects of ethnicity, gender, consumerism, and class at work in American culture.
Off-White Hollywood: American Culture and Ethnic Female Stardom
by Diane NegraOff-White Hollywood investigates how the 'ethnicity' of white European-American actresses has played a key role in the mythology of American identity and nation building. Negra focuses on key stars of the silent - Colleen Moore and Pola Negri - classical - Sonja Henie and Hedy Lamarr - and post-classical eras - Marisa Tomei and Cher - to demonstrate how each star illuminates aspects of ethnicity, gender, consumerism, and class at work in American culture.
Offender and Victim Networks in Human Trafficking (Routledge Studies in Crime and Society)
by Ella CockbainMillions of pounds are spent every year trying to tackle human trafficking, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation. These are apparently threats perpetrated by ‘criminal masterminds’, spreading at a dizzying rate and approaching epidemic proportions – or so the story goes. Amid all the bold rhetoric and sweeping claims, there is very little robust research to help understand these problems and inform evidence-based policy and practice. In this book, readers are invited to delve inside the murky world of human trafficking. It focuses on the internal (domestic) trafficking of children for sexual exploitation. It is based on far-reaching analysis of six of the earliest and largest such investigations in the United Kingdom (UK), including the infamous Derby and Rochdale cases that sparked nationwide concerns about ‘street grooming’ and ‘Asian sex gangs’. Innovative methods, analytical rigour and truly extraordinary data underpin the research: a nuanced and sometimes unsettling exploration of the offender and victim networks, their characteristics, structure, activity and dynamics and the problems they pose for investigation and prosecution. The results paint a picture of a sprawling and dynamic system of grooming and abuse that is deeply embedded in complex webs of social relations and interactions. This book challenges accepted wisdom, debunks myths and introduces new and fundamentally different ways of thinking about trafficking and its prevention. An accessible and compelling read, this book is for academics, policymakers, practitioners and others interested in serious and organised crime.
Offender and Victim Networks in Human Trafficking (Routledge Studies in Crime and Society)
by Ella CockbainMillions of pounds are spent every year trying to tackle human trafficking, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation. These are apparently threats perpetrated by ‘criminal masterminds’, spreading at a dizzying rate and approaching epidemic proportions – or so the story goes. Amid all the bold rhetoric and sweeping claims, there is very little robust research to help understand these problems and inform evidence-based policy and practice. In this book, readers are invited to delve inside the murky world of human trafficking. It focuses on the internal (domestic) trafficking of children for sexual exploitation. It is based on far-reaching analysis of six of the earliest and largest such investigations in the United Kingdom (UK), including the infamous Derby and Rochdale cases that sparked nationwide concerns about ‘street grooming’ and ‘Asian sex gangs’. Innovative methods, analytical rigour and truly extraordinary data underpin the research: a nuanced and sometimes unsettling exploration of the offender and victim networks, their characteristics, structure, activity and dynamics and the problems they pose for investigation and prosecution. The results paint a picture of a sprawling and dynamic system of grooming and abuse that is deeply embedded in complex webs of social relations and interactions. This book challenges accepted wisdom, debunks myths and introduces new and fundamentally different ways of thinking about trafficking and its prevention. An accessible and compelling read, this book is for academics, policymakers, practitioners and others interested in serious and organised crime.
Offender Care and Support by Families in Contemporary Japan: The Nexus of Gender, Shame, and Ambivalence (Routledge Studies in Crime, Justice and the Family)
by Mari KitaBecause people’s contact with the criminal justice system comes in different shapes and forms, scholars are now broadening their analytical scope and examining the overall repercussions of criminal justice contact on families of offenders. Compared to Western societies, Japan is known for its lower crime rates and more pronounced use of informal social control. Thus, it offers a useful research site for examining how families in a low-crime society experience criminal justice contact and how they function as an integral part of the nation’s crime control mechanism. This book considers the role of the family in the lives of offenders and the criminal justice system in Japan. Looking particularly at gender and patriarchal power relations, it reveals how cultural notions of femininity prompt the criminal justice system to rely on women as its proxy. This book explores how families of offenders often step in to fill the voids left by criminal justice institutions and social services to provide offenders with all-inclusive care. The burden of supervising and rehabilitating offenders on top of the expectation to atone for the crimes also renders families ambivalent and ashamed. Whereas the state and criminal justice authorities tend to see offenders’ families as a crucial resource for prisoner reentry, this book highlights the necessity for addressing families’ needs before automatically assuming their support. It also pushes the boundaries of feminist criminology by showing how women can be affected by male criminality and male-dominated criminal justice institutions, other than as victims and offenders. An accessible and compelling read, this book will appeal to students and scholars of criminology, sociology, gender studies, Japanese culture and all those interested in learning more about the criminal justice system in Japan.
Offender Care and Support by Families in Contemporary Japan: The Nexus of Gender, Shame, and Ambivalence (Routledge Studies in Crime, Justice and the Family)
by Mari KitaBecause people’s contact with the criminal justice system comes in different shapes and forms, scholars are now broadening their analytical scope and examining the overall repercussions of criminal justice contact on families of offenders. Compared to Western societies, Japan is known for its lower crime rates and more pronounced use of informal social control. Thus, it offers a useful research site for examining how families in a low-crime society experience criminal justice contact and how they function as an integral part of the nation’s crime control mechanism. This book considers the role of the family in the lives of offenders and the criminal justice system in Japan. Looking particularly at gender and patriarchal power relations, it reveals how cultural notions of femininity prompt the criminal justice system to rely on women as its proxy. This book explores how families of offenders often step in to fill the voids left by criminal justice institutions and social services to provide offenders with all-inclusive care. The burden of supervising and rehabilitating offenders on top of the expectation to atone for the crimes also renders families ambivalent and ashamed. Whereas the state and criminal justice authorities tend to see offenders’ families as a crucial resource for prisoner reentry, this book highlights the necessity for addressing families’ needs before automatically assuming their support. It also pushes the boundaries of feminist criminology by showing how women can be affected by male criminality and male-dominated criminal justice institutions, other than as victims and offenders. An accessible and compelling read, this book will appeal to students and scholars of criminology, sociology, gender studies, Japanese culture and all those interested in learning more about the criminal justice system in Japan.
Offender Profiling and Crime Analysis
by Peter AinsworthOffender Profiling and Crime Analysis provides a highly readable account of the subject, and a picture of profiling which by no means accords with popular views and representations of what is involved. The book provides an overview of profiling techniques, offering some fascinating insights into the various approaches to profiling, and schools of thought, which have emerged ? looking particularly at the work of the FBI, and of British and Dutch profilers.
Offender Profiling and Crime Analysis
by Peter AinsworthOffender Profiling and Crime Analysis provides a highly readable account of the subject, and a picture of profiling which by no means accords with popular views and representations of what is involved. The book provides an overview of profiling techniques, offering some fascinating insights into the various approaches to profiling, and schools of thought, which have emerged ? looking particularly at the work of the FBI, and of British and Dutch profilers.
Offender Rehabilitation: Theory, Research and Practice (PDF)
by Gwen Robinson Iain Crow'Robinson and Crow have achieved the seemingly impossible: a book about rehabilitation that transcends the medical model, that is original and contemporary yet grounded in a sophisticated history, and most of all that is fun to read. It will become a new classic text in a field that has been crying out for one' - Professor Shadd Maruna, Queen's University, Belfast. 'In an age where there is much public and political confusion about many criminal justice matters, this book brings considerable clarity to the idea of rehabilitation, its theoretical and historical roots, and contemporary practical application. This is an accessible, lively, and critical account of a concept which is central to the shape of the criminal justice system in pursuance of something that will work to reduce reoffending. Rehabilitation seems to go in and out of fashion depending on the politics of the day, but the careful and thorough examination of the different contexts in which it operates and competing perspectives on its potential offered here highlights its enduring qualities. This is a fascinating and engaging book by two established and real world scholars which will serve students and policy makers alike in the fields of criminal justice and social policy' - Loraine Gelsthorpe, Reader in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. This comprehensive text explains all the key themes in the development and practice of offender rehabilitation. It explores how the issue fits within its wider social and political contexts, giving an insight into its current and future relevance to criminal justice. The book covers the full range of rehabilitative approaches, exploring how criminal justice responses have been influenced by trends such as the treatment model, 'What Works?', desistance, risk and public protection, and changes in social policy. It offers the following essential features: theoretical grounding - providing students with all the essential background they need in order to fully understand the subject. historical context - enabling the reader to see how ideas, policies and practices have developed over time. research focus - introducing the reader to questions about how rehabilitative approaches have been evaluated and debates about 'what works' for particular groups of offenders, such as sexual offenders and drug misusers. nbsp; study questions and further reading - giving students the tools both to revise and to expand their knowledge. Offender Rehabilitation both advances thinking about the notion of rehabilitation, and ensures that students of crime and justice can keep abreast of the most recent developments in this area.
Offender Rehabilitation: Theory, Research and Practice (PDF)
by Gwen Robinson Mr Iain Crow'Robinson and Crow have achieved the seemingly impossible: a book about rehabilitation that transcends the "medical model", that is original and contemporary yet grounded in a sophisticated history, and most of all that is fun to read. It will become a new classic text in a field that has been crying out for one' - Professor Shadd Maruna, Queen's University, Belfast 'In an age where there is much public and political confusion about many criminal justice matters, this book brings considerable clarity to the idea of rehabilitation, its theoretical and historical roots, and contemporary practical application. This is an accessible, lively, and critical account of a concept which is central to the shape of the criminal justice system in pursuance of something that will "work" to reduce reoffending. "Rehabilitation" seems to go in and out of fashion depending on the politics of the day, but the careful and thorough examination of the different contexts in which it operates and competing perspectives on its potential offered here highlights its enduring qualities. This is a fascinating and engaging book by two established and "real world" scholars which will serve students and policy makers alike in the fields of criminal justice and social policy' - Loraine Gelsthorpe, Reader in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge This comprehensive text explains all the key themes in the development and practice of offender rehabilitation. It explores how the issue fits within its wider social and political contexts, giving an insight into its current and future relevance to criminal justice. The book covers the full range of rehabilitative approaches, exploring how criminal justice responses have been influenced by trends such as the treatment model, 'What Works?', desistance, risk and public protection, and changes in social policy. It offers the following essential features: " theoretical grounding - providing students with all the essential background they need in order to fully understand the subject " historical context - enabling the reader to see how ideas, policies and practices have developed over time " research focus - introducing the reader to questions about how rehabilitative approaches have been evaluated and debates about 'what works' for particular groups of offenders, such as sexual offenders and drug misusers " study questions and further reading - giving students the tools both to revise and to expand their knowledge Offender Rehabilitation both advances thinking about the notion of rehabilitation, and ensures that students of crime and justice can keep abreast of the most recent developments in this area.
Offender Rehabilitation: Theory, Research and Practice
by Gwen Robinson Mr Iain Crow'Robinson and Crow have achieved the seemingly impossible: a book about rehabilitation that transcends the "medical model", that is original and contemporary yet grounded in a sophisticated history, and most of all that is fun to read. It will become a new classic text in a field that has been crying out for one' - Professor Shadd Maruna, Queen's University, Belfast 'In an age where there is much public and political confusion about many criminal justice matters, this book brings considerable clarity to the idea of rehabilitation, its theoretical and historical roots, and contemporary practical application. This is an accessible, lively, and critical account of a concept which is central to the shape of the criminal justice system in pursuance of something that will "work" to reduce reoffending. "Rehabilitation" seems to go in and out of fashion depending on the politics of the day, but the careful and thorough examination of the different contexts in which it operates and competing perspectives on its potential offered here highlights its enduring qualities. This is a fascinating and engaging book by two established and "real world" scholars which will serve students and policy makers alike in the fields of criminal justice and social policy' - Loraine Gelsthorpe, Reader in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge This comprehensive text explains all the key themes in the development and practice of offender rehabilitation. It explores how the issue fits within its wider social and political contexts, giving an insight into its current and future relevance to criminal justice. The book covers the full range of rehabilitative approaches, exploring how criminal justice responses have been influenced by trends such as the treatment model, 'What Works?', desistance, risk and public protection, and changes in social policy. It offers the following essential features: " theoretical grounding - providing students with all the essential background they need in order to fully understand the subject " historical context - enabling the reader to see how ideas, policies and practices have developed over time " research focus - introducing the reader to questions about how rehabilitative approaches have been evaluated and debates about 'what works' for particular groups of offenders, such as sexual offenders and drug misusers " study questions and further reading - giving students the tools both to revise and to expand their knowledge Offender Rehabilitation both advances thinking about the notion of rehabilitation, and ensures that students of crime and justice can keep abreast of the most recent developments in this area.
Offender Rehabilitation Programmes: The Role of the Prison Officer (Routledge Frontiers of Criminal Justice)
by Laura M. Small Paul M.W. HackettThis book shows how prison officers may be able to significantly influence extra-programmatic conditions, to enhance rehabilitation outcomes and contribute to reducing reoffending. It does so through a detailed review of the literature relating to prison-based rehabilitation programmes, examining factors influencing their outcomes and the effects of the prison officer role. Firstly the book explores current understandings about the role of the prison and effective offender rehabilitation programmes. It then describes the processes of the integrative review of how prison officers can support rehabilitation programmes in prisons. Review findings suggest three main routes by which prison officers can contribute to enhancing rehabilitation outcomes: influencing prison social environments, enhancing prisoner treatment readiness and programme engagement and identifying and supporting prisoners’ wider needs. This book also explores avenues for further research in this area using a declarative sentence mapping approach. Bridging two previously distinct areas of research - prison officers and their role; and prison rehabilitation interventions – this book offers new understanding in the real-world context of prisons and their staff as to how we can enhance rehabilitation outcomes. It will be of great interest to academics in penology, forensic psychology, probation, and offender rehabilitation fields. The book is also valuable to postgraduate students and professionals working on prison policy.
Offender Rehabilitation Programmes: The Role of the Prison Officer (Routledge Frontiers of Criminal Justice)
by Laura M. Small Paul M.W. HackettThis book shows how prison officers may be able to significantly influence extra-programmatic conditions, to enhance rehabilitation outcomes and contribute to reducing reoffending. It does so through a detailed review of the literature relating to prison-based rehabilitation programmes, examining factors influencing their outcomes and the effects of the prison officer role. Firstly the book explores current understandings about the role of the prison and effective offender rehabilitation programmes. It then describes the processes of the integrative review of how prison officers can support rehabilitation programmes in prisons. Review findings suggest three main routes by which prison officers can contribute to enhancing rehabilitation outcomes: influencing prison social environments, enhancing prisoner treatment readiness and programme engagement and identifying and supporting prisoners’ wider needs. This book also explores avenues for further research in this area using a declarative sentence mapping approach. Bridging two previously distinct areas of research - prison officers and their role; and prison rehabilitation interventions – this book offers new understanding in the real-world context of prisons and their staff as to how we can enhance rehabilitation outcomes. It will be of great interest to academics in penology, forensic psychology, probation, and offender rehabilitation fields. The book is also valuable to postgraduate students and professionals working on prison policy.
Offender Supervision: New Directions in Theory, Research and Practice
by Fergus McNeill Peter Raynor Chris TrotterThis major new book brings together leading researchers in the field in order to describe and analyse internationally significant theoretical and empirical work on offender supervision, and to address the policy and practice implications of this work within and across jurisdictions. Arising out of the work of the international Collaboration of Researchers for the Effective Development of Offender Supervision (CREDOS), this book examines questions and issues that have arisen both within effectiveness research, and from research on desistance from offending. The book draws out the lessons that can be learned not just about ‘what works?’, but about how and why particular practices support desistance in specific jurisdictional, cultural and local contexts. Key themes addressed in this book include: New directions in theory and paradigms for practice Staff skills and effective offender supervision Different issues and challenges in improving offender supervision The role of families, ‘significant others’ and social networks Understanding and supporting compliance within supervision Exploring the social, political, organisational and historical contexts of offender supervision Offender Supervision will be essential reading for academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students, policy makers, managers and practitioners interested in offender supervision.
Offender Supervision: New Directions in Theory, Research and Practice
by Fergus McNeill Peter Raynor Chris TrotterThis major new book brings together leading researchers in the field in order to describe and analyse internationally significant theoretical and empirical work on offender supervision, and to address the policy and practice implications of this work within and across jurisdictions. Arising out of the work of the international Collaboration of Researchers for the Effective Development of Offender Supervision (CREDOS), this book examines questions and issues that have arisen both within effectiveness research, and from research on desistance from offending. The book draws out the lessons that can be learned not just about ‘what works?’, but about how and why particular practices support desistance in specific jurisdictional, cultural and local contexts. Key themes addressed in this book include: New directions in theory and paradigms for practice Staff skills and effective offender supervision Different issues and challenges in improving offender supervision The role of families, ‘significant others’ and social networks Understanding and supporting compliance within supervision Exploring the social, political, organisational and historical contexts of offender supervision Offender Supervision will be essential reading for academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students, policy makers, managers and practitioners interested in offender supervision.
Offender Supervision in Europe
by Fergus McNeill Kristel BeyensOffender supervision in Europe has developed rapidly in scale, distribution and intensity in recent years. However, the emergence of mass supervision in the community has largely escaped the attention of legal scholars and social scientists more concerned with the mass incarceration reflected in prison growth. As well as representing an important analytical lacuna for penology in general and comparative criminal justice in particular, the neglect of supervision means that research has not delivered the knowledge that is urgently required to engage with political, policy and practice communities grappling with delivering justice efficiently and effectively in fiscally straitened times, and with the challenges of communicating the meaning, legitimacy and utility of supervision to an insecure public. This book reports the findings from a survey of European research on this topic, undertaken during the first year of a European research network that spans twenty countries. As such, it provides the first comprehensive review of research on offender supervision in Europe, opening up an important new field of enquiry for comparative social science, and offering the prospects of better informed democratic deliberation about key challenges facing contemporary justice systems, policymakers and practitioners, and the societies they seek to serve.
Offenders in focus: Risk, responsivity and diversity
by Kathryn Farrow Gill KellyA great deal has been written about developing effective practice against a backdrop of rapid change in criminal justice services. Much of this is research-oriented and not always accessible to practitioners in their day-to-day work. This book changes that. Drawing on research and integrating this with practitioner experience, the book creates fresh, research-based 'practice wisdom' for engaging effectively with offenders. It explores issues of risk, responsivity and diversity in the context of work with specific offender and offending behaviour groups as a means to highlight those skills and understandings which can be used across the wider range of work environments. The authors break down complex ideas to enable practical application, and each chapter includes questions for reflection and practice development. With its accessible style, balancing academic rigour with clear pointers to best practice, this book will interest everyone working face to face with offenders. It recognises that there are no instant solutions to changing offending behaviour but provides a practice text that will encourage a sense of competence and confidence, enhancing readers' skill and enthusiasm when working with a broad spectrum of offenders.
Offenders on Offending: Learning about Crime from Criminals
by Wim BernascoOur knowledge of crime is based on three types of sources: the criminal justice system, victims, and offenders. For technological and other reasons the criminal justice system produces an increasing stream of information on crime. The rise of the victimization survey has given the victims a much larger role in our study of crime. There is, however, no concomitant development regarding offenders. This is unfortunate because offenders are the experts when it comes to offending.In order to understand criminal behavior, we need their perspective. This is not always a straightforward process, however, and information from offenders is often unreliable. This book is about what we can do to maximise the validity of what offenders tell us about their offending. Renowned experts from various countries present their experiences and insights, with a clear focus on methodological issues of fieldwork among various types of offender populations. Each contribution deals with with a few central issues: How can offenders be motivated to participate in research? How can offenders be motivated to tell the truth on their offending? How can the information that offenders provide be checked and validated? What can we learn from offenders that cannot be accessed from other sources? With the aim of obtaining valid and reliable information, how, where and under which conditions should we observe offenders and talk to them?