The third and final installment of the Shoham handbook trilogy, this work follows in the tradition of the International Handbook of Penology and Criminal Justice and the International Handbook of Criminology by providing state-of the-art information contributed by the leading experts in the field. The comparative nature of the cultural information presented provides a theoretical framework from which to rethink the field of victimology. The book covers such topics as the victima (TM)s revolution, radical and positivist victimology, and victimology research. It also examines victim involvement in rape and other crimes and discusses battered women, female prisoners, and date rape. Written for a wide-ranging audience, the text also explores media coverage and public perceptions of victims.