Global Organized Crime

Roth (criminal justice, Coll. of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State Univ.) presents an informative general overview of international crime organizations and agencies trying to stop them. The book's opening chapter presents a brief history of international crime, beginning with piracy and slavery, then examining more modern criminal organizations. Other chapters explore how international crime can flourish in certain areas, what the author describes as failed states. Also covered are procedures taken by government and nongovernment agencies to try to halt criminal organizations, as well as the obstacles they face. The book also contains statistics about criminal activity, estimated profits from various activities, and texts of treaties pledging to combat it. The chapter presenting biographical sketches provides a useful if brief look at famous criminal leaders, law enforcement figures, and scholars in the field of international crime. This chapter is a somewhat selective list and readers may find their "favorite" crime figure missing (for example, Al Capone). Scholars can find more information both in the bibliography at the end of each chapter and the "Other Resources" chapter. Mostly arranged by geographic location, this section presents an annotated list of books, videos produced by various media sources, and reliable web pages. BOTTOM LINE Because of its depth of exploration, this reference will probably be most useful for college students, but general-interest readers may find it informative. Libraries that own Transnational Organized Crime (Routledge, 2009) probably won't want to buy a second book, but those with older resources may wish to upgrade.—James Langan, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown