Green criminology and green victimization (original) (raw)

Researchers engaging in green criminological research and activists fighting for the environment and public health must take into consideration several challenges inherent in these pursuits. For one, the immediate consequences of an environmental offense may not appear obvious or severe. People may not become sick from exposure to toxic pollution, for example, for decades after their exposure. Consequently, green crime does not fit most people's perceptions of crime. Researchers must be prepared for the complexities associated with green crime research. It is possible to change public conceptions about certain issues but not without extensive time and effort. For example, we can look to the political and public attitudes toward smoking that have changed significantly since the 1960s, when the Surgeon General reported