Even some of the more innovative studies conducted by geographers are consistently cor- rectionalist in their purpose. Carter and Hill (I979) and Smith and Patterson (I980) move away from areal and ecological analyses to focus on the subjective dimensions of criminality in terms of criminals‘ mental maps and images of the city. But this research is nevertheless couched in terms of its relevance for helping to prevent crime. Of course radical theory is also policy relevant. but not necessarily in the con- text of the interests of the state