@article{ref1,
title="Rethinking conceptual definitions of the criminal career and serial criminality",
journal="Trauma, violence, and abuse",
year="2015",
author="Edelstein, Arnon",
volume="17",
number="1",
pages="62-71",
abstract="Since Cesare Lombroso's days, criminology seeks to define, explain, and categorize the various types of criminals, their behaviors, and motives. This aim has theoretical as well as policy-related implications. One of the important areas in criminological thinking focuses chiefly on recidivist offenders who perform large numbers of crimes and/or commit the most dangerous crimes in society (rape, murder, arson, and armed robbery). These criminals have been defined as &quot;habitual offenders,&quot; &quot;professional criminals,&quot; &quot;career criminals,&quot; and &quot;serial offenders.&quot; The interest in these criminals is a rational one, given the perception that they present a severe threat to society. The main challenge in this area of research is a conceptual problem that has significant effects across the field. To this day, scholars have reused and misused titles to define and explain different concepts. The aim of this article is 3-fold. First, to review the concepts of criminal career, professional crime, habitual offenses, and seriality with a critical attitude on confusing terms. Second, to propose the redefinition of concepts mentioned previously, mainly on the criminal career. Third, to propose a theoretical model to enable a better understanding of, and serve as a basis for, further research in this important area of criminology.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1524-8380",
doi="10.1177/1524838014566694",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1524838014566694"
}