I am delighted to welcome this wide-ranging International Handbook, which demonstrates the importance of health factors in explaining and preventing crime and violence across the life course. It shows the great advances in knowledge and practice that can be achieved by treating crime as a public health problem and by studying the interplay of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. It should be mandatory reading for everyone who wishes to understand and reduce delinquency.David P. Farrington, Emeritus Professor of Psychological Criminology, University of CambridgeThe editors have brought together the study of criminology, public and physical health, and health disparities to provide a novel perspective that will appeal to researchers and practitioners in all three fields. Chapter authors provide theory and evidence on a broad set of topics that provide guidance on this integrated perspective. Finally, practitioners will find this book useful for its suggestions of structural changes, promotion, prevention, early intervention, treatment, and aftercare approaches throughout the life course.Richard F. Catalano, Professor, School of Social Work, University of Washington