Vol. 32, No. 1 (Spring 2008)
CONTENTS, Spring 2008
Introduction
1. Terrorism: Where Are We Today?Authors: Cindy J. Smith, John Picarelli. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 1 - 8.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
Articles
2. Precursor Crimes to Terrorism and the Local Prosecutor’s Role in DisruptionAuthors: M.Elaine Nugent-Borakove. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 9 - 13.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
3. Geospatial and Temporal Patterns of Preparatory Conduct among American Terrorists.
Authors: Cothren, Jackson, Smith, Brent L, Roberts Paxton,Kelly R.Damphousse. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 23 - 42.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
4. The Nexus of Organized Crime and Terrorism: Two case studies in Cigarette Smuggling.
Authors: Louise I.Shelly, Sharon A. Melzer . IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 43 - 65.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
5. What works? Countermeasures to Terrorism: A case study of PKK
Authors: Eunyoung Kim, Minwoo Yun,. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 65 - 89.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
6. Multiagency Coordintion and Response: Case Study of the July Bombing
Authors: Joe Eyerman, Kevin J. Storm, . IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 89 - 110.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
7. Social fragmental Origins of Terrorism: A Reserach Note
Authors: Ali Ozdogan. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 111 - 119.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
Book Reviews
8. Surviving Domestic Violence: Gender, Poverty and AgencyAuthors: Manish Madan. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pp. 121 - 124.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
9. The politics of Crime and Community
Authors: Raymund Narag. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 2; pp. 125 - 127.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
10. Young and Prison: Surviving and Adapting to Life Inside
Authors: Charles Lawrence Scheer. IJCACJ, 2008: Vol. 32, Iss. 2; pp. 129 - 131.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text - PDF
Abstracts
Smith, C.J., Picarelli, J (2008). Where are we Today?. Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 1 - 8.
This edition of the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice is focused on terrorism. It is neither comprehensive nor is it intended to articulate the state of the field. That is hardly possible when one considers that approximately 20,000 articles have been written on this topic (Lum, Kennedy, & Sherley, 2006). It is, however, a compilation of six recent works in the field. This introductory article provides a survey of the field of terrorism followed by a discussion of example frameworks used to date. It suggests that the life cycle framework provides a way of thinking about the processes found in terrorism that focus the research agenda on interrupting and stopping terrorism. Recognizing that we know much more about some aspects of the process and less about others will hopefully guide researchers. toward filling the gaps in knowledge.
Nugent-Borakove, M.E. (2008). Precursor Crimes to Terrorism and the Local Prosecutor’s Role in Disruption. Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 9 - 23.
Much of the discussion of terrorism prosecution focuses on the federal judicial system or the use of military tribunals. The passage of state anti-terrorism legislation in response to September 11, 2001, raises the issue of what role local prosecutors might play in responding to terrorism. Of particular interest is the role that local prosecutors have in identifying offenders who have committed crimes that may be precursors to terrorism and how they gather and share information. Using data from a survey of the 112 largest prosecutors’ offices in the country and information gained from case studies, this study explores the local prosecutor’s role in responding to terrorism, how they are involved in the identification and prosecution of precursor crimes, and the overlap between federal and state prosecution.
Jackson, C., Brent L.S., Paxton, R., Damphousse, K.R. (2008). Geospatial and Temporal Patterns of Preparatory Conduct among American Terrorists. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 23 - 42.
Although terrorism research has made significant strides during the past five years, even the most rudimentary patterns of terrorists’ behaviors remain unknown to scholars and analysts. In the current study, we analyze spatial and temporal patterns of criminal acts related to a variety of American terrorism cases and attempt to provide insight into these questions: 1) where do terrorists live in relation to the targets they select, 2) do they plan and prepare their acts of terrorism relatively close to the target or do they intentionally conduct these activities far from the target, 3) what types of preparatory activities do the terrorists usually commit, and 4) how long is this planning process and does it vary by group type? Results from this study allow us to draw the following conclusions. First, about one-half of terrorists both reside and prepare for their terrorist incidents within a thirty-mile radius of their residences, although the radius of activity shows significant variation based on group type. Second, the temporal dimensions of terrorist activity reveal that terrorist planning and preparation is more complex than originally anticipated. Finally, while the interaction between time and space has not been addressed, our initial impressions of our temporal and spatial data suggest a scenario much like a predator closing in on a prey¾as the planned incident draws nearer temporally, the spatial events also draw nearer to the target location. What our initial data have not revealed is whether these events are temporally and spatially sequenced in such a way that they can be of predictive value. Our study suggests the importance of further research in specific areas, including the identification of the prevalent types of preparatory and ancillary crimes terrorists commit in preparation for a terrorist incident, the identification of patterns of preparatory criminal activity that might either alert law enforcement officials to the existence of terrorist group activities or identify characteristic preparatory offenses, temporal sequencing of preparatory acts in relation to completed acts of terrorism, and geographic patterns to assist in threat assessment.
Shelley, L.I., Meilzer, S.A. (2008). The Nexus of Organized Crime and Terrorism: Two case studies in Cigarette Smuggling. Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 43 - 64.
This article examines two case studies that illustrate how two different types of actors were involved in a cigarette smuggling-terror nexus. The first case examines R.J. Reynolds. Tobacco Company’s alleged deliberate sales of its products in Iraq in contravention of the UN embargo and U.S. law. R.J. Reynolds used criminal actors as suppliers and provided financial compensation to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a recognized terrorist organization, and Uday Hussein (Saddam Hussein’s son) to facilitate this transport. The second case examines a Hezbollah cell operating out of Charlotte, North Carolina. The cell trafficked cigarettes from North Carolina to Michigan, reaping significant profits by exploiting the difference in cigarette tax rates between the two states. The two case studies revealed that terrorist financing occurs in the United States and as a result of the actions of a terrorist support cell and a U.S.-based company. In both cases, a legitimate commodity was used for illicit purposes.
Kim, E., Yun, M. (2008). What works? Countermeasures to Terrorism: A case study of PKK. Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 65 - 88.
What works? This can be the ultimate question in the war on terrorism. How can we reduce and hopefully eliminate this type of human suffering? A good many ideas or suggestions are available; however, we are still uncertain what counter terrorism measures or tactics do indeed work. By using the case study method, this paper attempts to answer this question. The Turkish government has long struggled against PKK terrorism and has adopted several different policy measures to put an end to this persistent problem. This paper will examine the efforts of the Turkish government to uncover what measures indeed work and what other measures have not proven to be effective against its goal to counter terrorism. Several existing theoretical perspectives or counter terrorism suggestions will be introduced and examined in order to identify the best plausible suggestion to reduce or eliminate terrorism inherent in the Turkish case. Five different Turkish counter terrorism measures were selected and will be examined whether they indeed impacted the reduction or elimination of PKK terrorism.
Eyerman, J., Storm, K.J. (2008). Multiagency Coordintion and Response Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 89 - 110.
On July 7, 2005, terrorists carried out a series of bombings in London’s underground subway system and transportation network. Fifty-two people were killed and more than 700 were injured. The authors of this study interviewed key staff from London agencies to evaluate the response to the London attacks and analyzed the responses using the General Coordination Model defined in prior research (Eyerman and Strom, 2005). Results indicate that the London coordination regime, which is characterized by a high level of preplanning, joint exercises, and regular improvement through constant use, minimized the effect of common barriers to multiagency response. Successful elements of the London response included the rapid recognition and declaration of a major incident; a successful command and control system that involved all key agencies and which was implemented quickly following the bombings; limited disagreement across agencies on roles and responsibilities; and, delivery of a single, unified media message.
Ozdogan, A. (2008). Social fragmental Origins of Terrorism: A Reserach Note Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 111 - 120.
Social fragmentation is one of the primary factors feeding the reservoir of discontent leading to terrorism. Social fragmentation is a result of internal and external tensions. The primary set of internal tensions is ethnic identities related to several issues, including race, religion, and language. The primary external tension is rooted in past colonial policies which favor the emergence of puppet ‘‘strongmen,’’ and their hereditary successors within the colonized land (Migdal 1988; Shughart 2006; Esposito 2003). The external tensions polarize the fragments by disrupting the delicate balance in wealth distribution among social groups, enabling the emergence of cliental economies and tribal politics
Madan, M. (2008). Surviving Domestic Violence: Gender, Poverty and Agency. Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 121 - 124.
Surviving Domestic Violence – Gender Poverty and Agency is based on an ethnographic study in a small neighborhood on a council housing estate in the north England. It uses in – depth interview with white Working-class, heterosexual women ranging form 25 to 43 years of age. All are survivors of the Domestic abuse and violence. The book is well organized and systematic in its approach. The main Focus is the women participants’ resilience and resourcefulness, which ultimately resulted in their leaving abusive relationships and living self- directed lives. In showing the experiences of the women who suffered through some form of direct or the indirect domestic violence, Wilcox highlights women‘s in the face of the constraints of gender domestic violence and poverty.
Narag, R. (2008). The politics of Crime and Community. Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 125 - 127.
This book is post modernist critique of the current trend, especially in Western developed countries, of engaging the community in crime control and safety. Taking as critical stance the book evaluates the role of criminologist’s developments, especially as they are implemented uncritically. Finally, the book outlines future roles of criminologist and an agenda as for criminology in making sense of the community crime control enterprise.
Scheer, C.L (2008). Young and Prison: Surviving and Adapting to Life Inside. Intl. Journal of Comp & Appl. Crim. Justice. Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 129 - 131.
Joel Harvey’s Young Men in Prison: Surviving and adapting to life inside reports on an ambitious and thorough mixed –method analysis of the adjustment young men make during their initial period of incarceration in prison. It also contains a methodological approach that is breathtaking in its scope. Conveying definite observations’ of the systems of psychosocial adaptation of the newly incarcerated. Harvey focuses on “Self Harm,” which encompasses a variety of physically self-destructive behaviors ranging from self-mutilation to suicide, as an indicator of the inability of the young men to adapt to the chaotic change thrust upon them during the initial period of prison entry. By balancing myriad qualitative discoveries and a solid quantitative analytical framework, Harvey enriches the concept of “transition” as it applies to young men who arrive in prison for the first time.
