Crime and Morality : The Significance of Criminal Justice in Post-Modern Culture

Over the last twenty-five years the significance of criminal justice has dramatically changed. In a "post-modern" culture, criminal law serves more and more as a focal point in public morality. The "discovery" of the victim of crime can be seen as the marking point by which criminal justice got its central position in the maintenance of social order. It is the result of a general "victimalization" of today's morality. This ingenious book - according to Michael Tonry - combines insights from criminology, sociology and moral philosophy. It is especially inspired by the work of Richard Rorty, who stresses the sensibility for suffering as the major source of morality in post-modern times. It describes the arousal of attention for victims and the development of crime prevention. More specifically, it analyzes child sexual abuse and prostitution. This "illuminating" book will be an eye-opener for theorists in criminology and moral philosophy, but will also be an inspiring work for policy makers in the area of criminal justice. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Morality, Criminal Justice and Criminal Events....Pages 1-18 Morality and Criminal Justice Policy....Pages 19-40 Morality and Victims....Pages 41-69 The Victimalization of the Sexually Abused Child....Pages 71-93 The De-Victimalization of the Prostitute....Pages 95-115 Solidarity or Virtuousness Rorty Versus Macintyre....Pages 117-139 Criminality and Liberalism: Some Closing Comments....Pages 141-157 Back Matter....Pages 159-181