Main description:

This book focuses on the intersection of place and overall community health thereby focusing on some of the most critical contemporary social problems, including the opioid crisis, suicide, socioeconomic status and ethnicity, mental illness, crime, homelessness, green criminology, and social and environmental justice. Scholars from a variety of disciplines, including geography, sociology, criminology, mental health, social work, and behavioural sciences discuss the importance of geography in our quality of life. Each chapter introduces the reader to an overview of the topic, presents theoretical frameworks and the most recent empirical evidence, and discusses real world policy implications. As such this book is a key resource for researchers, policy makers, and practitioners working in the field.

Contents:

Section I: Geography and Behavioral HealthInvoluntary Commitments, Suicide, and Mental Health (Kim Lersch & Annette Christy)

The Opioid Crisis & Substance abuse (potential: George Rengert)

Race, Class, and the Geography of Treatment

Section II: Geography of Crime

Hot Spots of Crime: Theory (confirmed: Patricia and Paul Brantingham)

Hot Spots of Crime: Methods & Predictive Analytics (potential: Spencer Chainey)

Green Criminology (potential: Paul B. Stretesky)

Section III: Geography of Disorder

Disorder, Fear, and Community Quality of Life (potential: Wesley Skogan)

The Nexus of Geography, Behavioral Health, and Homelessness

Environmental Justice: Disproportionate Exposure to Risky Substance Use Environments (potential: Jeremy Mennis)

Section IV: Concluding thoughts (Jay Chakraborty)