Understanding justice 2/e: An introduction to Ideas, Perspectives and Controversies in Modern Penal Therory (Crime and Justice)

* Why should offenders be punished - what should punishments be designed to achieve? * Why has imprisonment become the normal punishment for crime in modern industrial societies? * What is the relationship between theories of punishment and the actual penalties inflicted on offenders? This revised and updated edition of a highly successful text provides a comprehensive account of the ideas and controversies that have arisen within law, philosophy, sociology and criminology about the punishment of criminals. Written in a clear, accessible style, it summarises major philosophical ideas - retribution, rehabilitation, incapacitation - and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. This new edition has been updated throughout including, for example, a new section on recent cultural studies of punishment and on the phenomenon of mass imprisonment that has emerged in the United States. This second edition includes a new chapter on restorative justice, which has developed considerably in theory and in practice since the publication of the first edition. The sociological perspectives of Durkheim, the Marxists, Foucault and their contemporary followers are analysed and assessed. A section on the criminological perspective on punishment looks at the influence of theory on penal policy, and at the impact of penal ideologies on those on whom punishment is inflicted. The contributions of feminist theorists, and the challenges they pose to masculinist accounts of punishment, are included. The concluding chapter presents critiques of the very idea of punishment, and looks at contemporary proposals which could make society's response to crime less dependent on punishment than at present. Understanding Justice has been designed for students from a range of disciplines and is suitable for a variety of crime-related courses in sociology, social policy, law and social work. It will also be useful to professionals in criminal justice agencies and to all those interested in understanding the issues behind public and political debates on punishment. Understanding Justice Has Been Designed For Students From A Range Of Disciplines And Is Suitable For A Variety Of Crime-related Courses In Sociology, Social Policy, Law And Social Work. It Will Also Be Useful To Professionals In Criminal Justice Agencies And To All Those Interested In Understanding The Issues Behind Public And Political Debates On Punishment.--jacket. 1. Perspectives On Punishment -- Part One: The Goals Of Punishment: The Juridical Perspective -- 2. Utilitarian Approaches -- 3. Retribution -- 4. Hybrids, Compromises And Syntheses -- 5. Restorative Justice: Diversion, Compromise Or Replacement Discourse -- Part Two: Punishment And Modernity: The Sociological Perspective -- 6. Punishment And Progress: The Durkheimian Tradition -- 7. The Political Economy Of Punishment: Marxist Approaches -- 8. The Disciplined Society: Foucault And The Analysis Of Penality -- 9. Understanding Contemporary Penality -- Part Three: Towards Justice? -- 10. The Struggle For Justice: Critical Criminology And Critical Legal Studies -- Postscript: Beyond Modernity: The Fate Of Justice. Barbara A. Hudson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Why should offenders be punished - what should punishments be designed to achieve? Why has imprisonment become the normal punishment for crime in modern industrial societies? What is the relationship between theories of punishment and the actual penalties inflicted on offenders? This introductory text provides a comprehensive account of the ideas and controversies that have arisen within law, philosophy, sociology and criminology about the punishment of criminals. It summarises major philosophical ideas - retribution, rehabilitation, incapacitation - and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. Topics covered include: recent cultural studies of punishment; the phenomenon of mass imprisonment that has emerged in the United States; restorative justice; the sociological perspectives of Durkheim, the Marxists, Foucault and their contemporary followers; the influence of theory on penal policy, and at the impact of penal ideologies on those on whom punishment is inflicted In this second edition of an introduction to ideas and controversies that have arisen within law, philosophy, sociology, and criminology, Hudson (law, University of Central Lancashire) has added a new section on recent cultural studies of punishment and the phenomenon of mass imprisonment that has emerged in the US, and a new chapter on restorative justice. The book is suitable for courses in sociology, policy, law, and social work, and is distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) "Understanding Justice has been designed for students from a range of disciplines and is suitable for a variety of crime-related courses in sociology, social policy, law and social work. It will also be useful to professionals in criminal justice agencies and to all those interested in understanding the issues behind public and political debates on punishment."--BOOK JACKET