Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2017

Toward a Criminology of Disaster

What We Know and What We Need to Find Out

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Nominated for the ACJS Outstanding Book Award 2018
  • Ties together numerous theories to provide a cutting edge explanation criminology of disaster
  • Draws on detailed examples of a range of disaster-related criminological activities
  • Provides a systematic investigation into crime in the wake of a disaster

Part of the book series: Disaster Studies (DIS)

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 24.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 32.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xx
  2. The Case for a Criminology of Disaster

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 1-31
  3. Conceptualizing Fear in the Disaster Context

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 33-54
  4. Property Crime in Disaster

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 55-84
  5. Interpersonal Violence in Disaster

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 85-108
  6. Fraud in Disaster

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 109-139
  7. The Resilience of Crime

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 141-165
  8. The Resilience of Communities

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 167-193
  9. Culture and a Criminology of Disaster

    • Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper
    Pages 195-219
  10. Back Matter

    Pages 221-224

About this book

This book puts forward a comprehensive criminology of disaster by drawing - and building - upon existing theories which attempt to explain disaster crime. Although antisocial behaviour in disasters has long been viewed as a rarity, the authors present ample evidence that a variety of crime occurs in the wake of disaster. Frailing and Harper's explorations of property crime, interpersonal violence and fraud during disaster reveal the importance of methodological approaches to understanding these phenomena. They highlight the need for the application of social disorganization, routine activity and general strain theories of crime in the development of disaster crime prevention strategies. An accessible and detailed study, this book will have particular appeal for both students and scholars of criminology, sociology, disaster studies and emergency management. 

Reviews

“The intersection of disasters and criminology is a vastly underdeveloped area of scholarship that is explored in-depth by Frailing and Harper. Of particular interest is the application of criminology theories to frame explanations for post-disaster behaviors such as property crime, interpersonal violence, and fraud. This infusion of criminology theories into disaster social science has the potential to make significant contributions to our understanding disasters, as well as criminology.” (Duane A. Gill, Professor and Interim Head of Sociology, Oklahoma State University, USA)

“A careful, thoughtful, theoretically-informed analysis of what is known about various types of crime in the context of disaster – required reading for criminologists and disaster researchers alike.” (Kathleen Tierney, Professor of Sociology, University of Colorado Boulder, USA)

“For decades researchers have illuminated the bright side of disaster—enhanced community solidarity, increased helping behavior, and societal resilience.  This book, in contrast, shines a bright light on the dark side of disaster—price gouging, domestic violence, and corporate wrongdoing.  The authors have done a masterful job synthesizing seemingly disparate fields of study into a criminology of disaster.  This book will appeal to a wide and diverse audience, including those interested in criminology, sociology, disaster studies, homeland security, and emergency management.” (Gary R. Webb, Professor and Chair of Emergency Management and Disaster Science, University of North Texas, USA)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Criminology and Justice, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, USA

    Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper

About the authors

Dr. Kelly Frailing is an Assistant Professor of Criminology and Justice at Loyola University New Orleans, USA. 

Dr. Dee Wood Harper is Professor Emeritus of Sociology and of Criminology and Justice at Loyola University New Orleans, USA. 


Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Toward a Criminology of Disaster

  • Book Subtitle: What We Know and What We Need to Find Out

  • Authors: Kelly Frailing, Dee Wood Harper

  • Series Title: Disaster Studies

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-46914-4

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-46913-7Published: 11 July 2017

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-69166-1Published: 21 August 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-46914-4Published: 10 July 2017

  • Series ISSN: 2945-753X

  • Series E-ISSN: 2945-7548

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XX, 224

  • Number of Illustrations: 2 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Urban Studies/Sociology, Area Studies, Crime Prevention, State Crimes, Violence and Crime

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 24.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 32.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access