In this paper an outline of the framework for conducting a literature review is provided, based on the authors' experience of reviewing the literature on the epidemiology of mentally disordered offenders. This approach to reviewing literature is contrasted with existing models and the case made for extending a modified version to reviewing other types of literature including qualitative research and policy analysis. This is followed by an exploration of how the methodology can provide helpful guidance for those such as research students who are required to undertake reviews of the literature. This approach to reviewing the literature covers four key areas: definition of the problem, inclusion and exclusion criteria; the search strategy; criteria for the evaluation of studies; and data extraction. A key requirement is that each stage has to be defined in a protocol which is produced as the first step of the review. It is difficult to achieve clarity at the outset when the size and nature of the task may be unclear. Achieving a workable definition and setting inclusion and exclusion criteria is an important goal for the first phase of a literature review.