This unique text draws from both the fields of criminology and psychology to provide a comprehensive examination of the two major areas that are most significantly sffected by violent crime - the crime victims themselves, and the larger sphere of their families, friends, neighboorhoods, and communities. Beginning with a discussion of the how we measure and study violent victimization, the authors then look at the immediate and long-term impact violent acts have upon the direct victims. The book then examines `secondary victims' - family members, neighbors, friends, and the professionals involved with investigating and prosecuting the crime and helping the victim, and also impacts of violent crime on neighborhoods and communities. The authors conclude with recommendations of effective interventions that can be made at the levels of the individual, the community, and the criminal justice and mental health systems.

This book's one-of-a-kind focus on both the psychological and social impact of crime makes it an invaluable supplementary text for criminal justice and criminology courses dealing with victimization, violent crimes, and the criminal justice process. Psychology courses dealing in law and crime with also benefit from this text, which features discussion questions, end-of-chapter summaries, and special topic boxes. The book will also interest professionals in such areas as victim services, crime prevention, criminal justice, and social work.