ROHNERT PARK - Sonoma State University Professor Patrick Jackson has just launched a new electronic journal, the Western Criminology Review (WCR). This is the official journal of the Western Society of Criminology. It can be viewed at http://wcr.sonoma.edu and is free. The WCR is a refereed, scholarly publication that serves as a forum for the discussion of theory, research, policy, and practice in the rapidly changing and interdisciplinary fields of criminology and criminal justice. The journal reflects local (Western), national and international concerns.
The goal of WCR is to provide a meaningful outlet for academic and policy-related publication and dialogue in a wide variety of substantive areas. For example, the inaugural issue of the WCR discusses the theory and practice of restorative justice, a new way of controlling crime that is responsive to the needs of victims, communities, and offenders.
"The restorative justice movement deserves our undivided attention as a potential alternative to present responses to crime. Today there is much discussion about restorative justice, numerous calls for its implementation, and some critical response. It is clear that the public,our political leadership, numerous organizations involved in crime control, mainstream criminology, and many others need to learn what restorative justice means and how victims, society, and offenders can benefit from it," writes Jackson in the preface to the first issue.
The next issue of WCR will examine the effectiveness of juvenile curfew
laws in controlling crime, along with papers on a variety of other topics. Discussion of the curfew study recently appeared in the mainstream media, including the San Francisco Chronicle, the Press Democrat, USA Today, and others.
The WCR provides a unique venue for authors and critics. In addition to permitting new modes of expression it also speeds up the publication and distribution of articles and encourages rapid electronic commentary and discussion. Published papers can include text, tables, graphics, sound, and video. The web site also includes extensive links on the world wide web related to crime, criminal justice, electronic publication, and related matters.
For further information contact Patrick Jackson at (707) 664-2126 or by e-mail at wcr@sonoma.edu.
For more information:
http://wcr.sonoma.edu
