Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. It is becoming more important in the modern, globalized period to understand the power of illicit and illegal acts and actors in shaping our world. Opening with chapters that look across the diverse terrain of global crime, this Research Agenda moves on to consider key specific areas, including: organised crime, cyber crime, war crimes, terrorism, state and private violence, riots and political protest, prisons, sport and crime and counterfeit goods. Offering both critical reviews of key theories and in-depth case studies, this Research Agenda challenges the notion that criminal acts in a global age are solely the preserve of organised criminal groups, highlighting the role of other actors including governments, armies and corporations. A vital source of reference for criminology and sociology undergraduate, and post-graduate students, as well as those from a host of other social science disciplines, this Research Agenda will provoke thought and discussion across these topics. It will also be of great benefit for policy makers and practitioners working to better understand and combat transnational crime.

The presumption of innocence is widely accepted as a fundamental principle of criminal justice. In some countries (like South Africa and Canada) it has been elevated to a constitutionally guaranteed right, subject to a general limitations clause. The presumption of innocence is also found in international instruments and there is much laudatory rhetoric in support of this presumption. There is, however, very little consensus regarding the exact content and scope of the presumption of innocence. This lack of consensus creates considerable confusion concerning the practical application of the presumption. This book is an attempt to secure consensus, and to present some constructive solutions to the various theoretical and practical problems which exist in respect of the presumption of innocence.

In the post-9/11 era, the nexus between organized crime and terrorism has raised much concern and has been widely discussed in both academic and policy circles, but is still largely misunderstood. This critical book contributes innovatively to the debate by distinguishing three types of nexus-interaction, transformation/imitation and similarities-and identifying the promoting factors of each type. With its multifaceted but complementary chapters, the book provides conceptual and theoretical frameworks for readers, as well as the evidence needed to develop more realistic, effective and humane policies to tackle organized crime, terrorism and the nexuses between them. Bringing together a range of international multidisciplinary specialists, it includes three comparative analyses of worldwide transfers of personnel, weapons and money between organized crime and terrorism and 12 case studies examining local manifestations of the nexus in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Two other chapters further review the national, European and international policies adopted and implemented so far to deal with the different nexuses. This book will be a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers in the fields of comparative law, criminal law and justice and public policy, who specialize in the analysis and control of organized crime and terrorism. It will also appeal to senior law enforcement officials and practitioners due to the counterintuitive policy implications drawn from the comparative analysis of the findings.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.Organised crime has become a major problem globally. Its negative impact on economies, societies, politics, human rights and security is profound: fraud, money-laundering, drug, arms and human trafficking, and collusion with both law enforcement and terrorists, for example, are all significant issues. Yet specialists disagree not only on the scale and nature of organised crime, but even on its definition. This Advanced Introduction to Organised Crime explores these disagreements, examines the nature and causes of contemporary organised crime, and offers constructive suggestions on how to counter it. Key features include: - Emphasis on the rapidly changing structures of organised crime, its increasingly transnational nature and sophisticated use of the internet. - Psycho-social and cultural explanations, as well as system-related ones - Explores the latest techniques for measuring organised crime - Provides detailed analyses of six of the best known transnational organised crime syndicates - Focuses on human trafficking to exemplify many of the key points - Examines the many methods that can be used - not only by states and international organisations, but also by civil society and individuals - to combat organised crime. Accessible and comprehensive, the Advanced Introduction to Organised Crime is an ideal resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying criminology, political science, international relations, law and sociology. Its profound insights are invaluable to practitioners, including law enforcement officers, investigative journalists and criminologists.

Justice Statistics: An Extended Look at Crime in the United States is a special edition of Crime in the United States. It brings together key reports that fall under this category. Topics covered include capital punishment, rape and sexual assault among college-age women, correctional populations, crime in the United States, hate crimes, probation, parole, human trafficking, and law enforcement officers killed and assaulted. Tables in this volume provide a comprehensive account of each of these subjects. Each section contains statistical tables and figures highlighting the data, as well as a brief summary of the report's methodology and at-a-glance highlights of the most compelling information. This completely updated volume provides valuable information compiled by the Department of Justice, including its subsidiaries, the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

An inmate for life, Jens Soering tells stories of prison life that are shocking and inspiring. He confronts us with Jesus' challenge to love not only the least amongst us but those who are perceived as the worst amongst us. Anyone interested in what goes on behind the walls of our nation's prisons and in seeing the face of Christ in everyone will value this authentic, harrowing, and visionary search for redemption. "Jens Soering confronts the everyday realities of prison life with mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. I recommend "The Convict Christ" to those willing to become more deeply sensitized to the failures and injustices in our jails and prisons today. It is fascinating and enriching!" - Walter F. Sullivan, Bishop Emeritus of Richmond.

During the 1990's Boston was a world leader in arts, culture, higher education, and medicine. It was also a world leader in organized crime. In this exciting account, former FBI supervisory special agent David Nadolski tells the story of an unlikely alliance between two diametrically opposed people-the con and the FBI agent. While investigating a break-in at the Stone Library in Quincy, MA that houses the personal book collection of John Quincy Adams, the FBI gets a call from prison inmate, Anthony (Tony) Romano, requesting to meet with the case agent on the burglary. Romano provides a helpful tip that leads to the apprehension of the thief and the recovery of four priceless, historically significant books. Recognizing Tony's potential as an informant, Nadolski begins to cultivate a relationship in hopes of recruiting Romano as a criminal informant. Nadolski recruits Romano to play a very dangerous game-infiltrate the Merlino gang, controlled by Carmello Merlino, a career criminal who specialized in bank robberies, armored car robberies, and home invasions. The Merlino gang also became suspects in the largest art theft in history which took place at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston and remains unsolved to this day. Romano, a former armed robber, agrees. With sights set on the Loomis Fargo Armored Car Company money vault, located south of Boston, the Merlino gang gets to work. Little did they know, Romano, at great personal risk, was a wearing a wire and recording their planning sessions. After two years of being joined at the hip and learning to trust each other unconditionally, special agent Nadolski and Romano run a successful criminal investigation and undercover sting operation to catch four dangerous criminals poised to launch one of the biggest armed robberies of the twentieth century.

The brand new action-packed gangland thriller from Gillian Godden!Flawed, tough, unbreakable.... In the aftermath of her husband's shocking murder, Patsy Diamond wants answers. Who was Nick really? Where is all his money? And who killed the man she once loved? Patsy knows exactly who to go to first - Nick's pregnant mistress, Natasha. Natasha might seem young and innocent, but Patsy's certain the girl is hiding something. And the only way to find out what is to keep Natasha close and make her part of the Diamond family. With the two women forming an unlikely bond, they begin to dig deeper into Nick's secret life and discover things that shock...and terrify them. Because Nick Diamond played a deadly game and if the women in his life want payback, then they are going to have to follow his rules - or break them and make their own. But the strongest diamonds are created under pressure and these women are no exception... Don't miss this brilliant new gangland story from Gillian Godden - guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat! Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Heather Atkinson and Caz Finlay. What people are saying about Gillian Godden! 'An edge of your seat read that will leave you breathless!' Bestselling author, Kerry Kaya. 'Characters were so real I'm still looking over my shoulder! Bestselling author Owen Mullen.

Raised in a South Boston housing project, James "Whitey" Bulger became the most wanted fugitive of his generation. In this riveting story, rich with family ties and intrigue, award-winning Boston Globe reporters Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy follow Whitey s extraordinary criminal career from teenage thievery to bank robberies to the building of his underworld empire and a string of brutal murders.

It was after a nine-year stint in Alcatraz and other prisons that Whitey reunited with his brother William "Billy" Bulger, who was soon to become one of Massachusetts s most powerful politicians. He also became reacquainted with John Connolly, who had grown up around the corner from the Bulgers and was now with Billy s help a rising star at the FBI. Once Whitey emerged triumphant from the bloody Boston gang wars, Connolly recruited him as an informant against the Mafia. Their clandestine relationship made Whitey untouchable; the FBI overlooked gambling, drugs, and even homicide to protect their source. Among the close-knit Irish community in South Boston, nothing was more important than honor and loyalty, and nothing was worse than being a rat. Whitey is charged with the deaths of nineteen people killed over turf, for business, and even for being informants; yet to this day he denies he ever gave up his friends or landed anyone in jail.

Based on exclusive access and previously undisclosed documents, Cullen and Murphy explore the truth of the Whitey Bulger story. They reveal for the first time the extent of his two parallel family lives with different women, as well as his lifelong paranoia stemming in part from his experience in the CIA s MKULTRA program. They describe his support of the IRA and his hitherto-unknown role in the Boston busing crisis, and they show a keen understanding of his mindset while on the lam and behind bars. The result is the first full portrait of this legendary criminal figure a gripping story of wiseguys and cops, horrendous government malfeasance, and a sixteen-year manhunt that climaxed in Whitey s dramatic capture in Santa Monica in June 2011. With a new afterword covering the trial, this book promises to become a true-crime classic."

Once you're in, there's only one way out...Tired of always doing the dirty work with little reward, Danny McKay wants out of the gangland life. But his boss, Freddie Smith, has other ideas... As the current Top Dog of the East End, Freddie knows he must protect his reign at all costs and if that means disposing of his much younger, much stronger, number two, then so be it. Now, with a price on his head, Danny must use all of his wits and connections to stay one step ahead of Freddie - he knows his old boss won't give up without a fight to the death. But with a turf war looming, the question is who will survive and who will be crowned Top Dog. Don't miss the exciting sequel to Under Dog by Kerry Kaya! Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Heather Atkinson and Caz Finlay. Please note this is a re-release of Top Dog, previously published by Kerry Kaya.