Environmental Corrections builds on the idea of developing a new paradigm for probation and parole officers to use in supervising offenders.
Previous attempts to bring the insights of environmental criminology into corrections have been modest and thus far not interconnected. By contrast, by explicitly setting forth environmental corrections, it is possible to open up fresh ideas and practices on how best to help offenders avoid returning to crime while on probation and parole. New ideas in community corrections are in short supply. For many years, the debate has focused on whether offenders under community supervision should receive rehabilitation or intensive control. By contrast, authors Lacey Schaefer, Francis Cullen, and John Eck hope to articulate an innovative approach to offender supervision that moves beyond this now-stale and unhelpful debate.
The growing field of environmental criminology will embrace the work of the renowned coauthors with this innovative guide for the development of new, effective strategies to more effectively integrate offenders back into the community and reduce recidivism.
About the Authors
Lacey Schaefer is Lecturer in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University. She received her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. She previously worked as a Research Fellow for the University of Cincinnati Policing Institute and in the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security, exploring the impact of community efforts on crime-reduction interventions and the disruption of offending pathways.
Francis T. Cullen is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Associate in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology and Education from Columbia University. Professor Cullen has published over 300 works in the areas of criminological theory, corrections, white-collar crime, public opinion, and the measurement of sexual victimization.
John E. Eck is Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati, where he teaches police effectiveness and crime prevention. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, and his doctorate from the University of Maryland’s Department of Criminology. Professor Eck has conducted research into police operations since 1977, and served as the Research Director for the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). At PERF, he spearheaded the development of problem-oriented policing throughout the U.S.
Industry Reviews
"For more than a half century, scholars have contested whether offender supervision should emphasize treatment or control. Drawing on the insights of environmental criminology, Schaefer and colleagues move beyond this increasingly stale debate by proposing a truly innovative approach to community corrections: using supervision to limit offenders vulnerability to criminal opportunities. Scholarly yet accessible, this volume promises to be a contemporary classic in the field of corrections." -- Joan Petersilia "This book breaks important new ground by integrating environmental criminology and place-based ideas into community supervision of offenders. The idea of "environmental corrections" is not just new and intriguing; it presents a new approach to doing something about an important part of the crime problem." -- David Weisburd "A text like Environmental Corrections is a hot cake in the field of criminal justice, especially in the branch of Corrections. It addresses the whole components of correctional system in a systematic method. It uses a comprehensive approach to explain to readers the environment in which the modern day correction systems operate. By breaking down the theory of correction in Chapter one, the author makes it easier for readers to appreciate the discussions in the Environmental Correction. I believe the use of this book in my correction class would add more flavor in explaining the process of corrections in America." -- Chima O. Ahanotu "This book has the potential to be for community corrections what Goldstein's Problem Oriented Policing was and still is for policing." -- Jonathon A. Cooper "This may well be the most important book on community corrections in decades. It takes a mountain of research evidence from a staggering variety of sources and consolidates it into a roadmap for the future. The ugly truth is that American corrections is broken. Environmental Corrections may well be the approach necessary to repair a critical part of it. The authors have brutally assaulted the mantra that "nothing works" by showing otherwise". -- Adam J. McKee "It's an important book - well-written and well-argued. Even though it may ask a lot from probation and parole officers, it certainly provides a standard to aspire to." -- Richard P. Wiebe "Strengths: Thoroughness, Inclusion of forms and excellent figures, Practical discussions" -- Elizabeth Perkins "I would be very likely to seriously consider this as a supplementary text to my Community Corrections class. I also think it would be a good addition to my Police and Community course" -- Deirdre M. Warren
