Social Problems and the Family

Social Problems and the Family links together themes and issues which lie at the heart of today′s debates about "the family." Contributors consider some of the most controversial social issues confronting families--juvenile delinquency, mental health, poverty, old age, homelessness, and domestic violence. In examining each issue, they critically address key definitional issues, rigorously assess traditional and alternative theoretical perspectives, and comprehensively survey different modes of intervention. With its illuminating interdisciplinary approach, this volume is essential reading for students and practitioners in social work, social policy, mental health, and psychology.

Eugene McLaughlin is Professor of Criminology and co-director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Research. He is also a member of the Centre for Law Justice and Journalism. He completed his postgraduate criminology studies at the University of Cambridge and the University of Sheffield. Eugene has held various academic appointments including at the University of Hong Kong, the Open University and the University of Southampton. He has also been Visiting Professor at the Department of Sociology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, the Department of Communication Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. He is an associate editor of Crime, Media and Cultureand is on the editorial board of Criminal Justice Matters. He has served on the editorial boards of the British Journal of Criminology, Critical Social Policy, the Howard Journal of Criminal Justice and was co-editor of Theoretical Criminology.