Sentencing and Society

Combining the latest work of leading sentencing and punishment scholars from twelve different countries, this major new international volume answers key questions in the study of sentencing and society. It presents not only a rigorous examination of the latest legal and empirical research from around the world, but also reveals the workings of sentencing within society and as a social practice. Traditionally, work in the field of sentencing has been dominated by legal and philosophical approaches. Distinctively, this volume provides a more sociological approach to sentencing: so allowing previously unanswered questions to be addressed and new questions to be opened. This extensive collection is drawn from around one third of the papers presented at the First International Conference on Sentencing and Society. Almost without exception, the chapters have been revised, cross-referenced and updated. The overall themes and findings of the international volume are set out by the opening "Introduction" and the closing "Reflections" chapters. Research findings on particular penal policy questions are balanced with an analysis of fundamental conceptual issues, making this international volume essential reading for: sentencing and punishment scholars, criminal justice policy-makers, and graduate students.

’Sentencing is at the heart of criminal justice, and sentencing reforms have been at the core of the major changes that we have witnessed in one jurisdiction after another over the last thirty years. This excellent, international collection - focused not just on sentencing law and practice but upon the social and political dynamics that drive this crucial institution - will be essential reading for anyone concerned with punishment and its place in modern societies.’ David Garland, New York University, USA ’For an accused person in the criminal process, for a victim, and for the public, the sentence imposed on the offender is typically the main concern of the criminal process. Increasingly, for politicians, it is the same: legislators in many jurisdictions have taken an interest in sentencing. This book is a must read for anyone seriously interested in sentencing. No longer can any of us look only at our own laws and our own political processes to understand sentencing. In the 28 chapters of this book, written by people from almost a dozen different countries, one sees, repeatedly that - for better or worse - globalization has made its way into the sentencing process. Sentencing systems in different countries are varied and sentencing itself, and the control of sentencing, are changing in many countries. This book, however, reminds us how similar the issues and the influences are across widely different countries. Nobody with a serious interest in sentencing can afford to ignore this book.’ Professor Anthony N. Doob, Centre for Criminology, University of Toronto, Canada ’...an interesting backlash against inflexible policies of sentencing.’ The Law and Politics Book Review ’...a rich resource of talent and ideas for anyone seeking a comparative and interdisciplinary understanding of the nature and ramifications of one of the central and most complex features of the criminal trial process.’ Adelaide Law Review 'This is an inform

Cyrus Tata, Strathclyde University Law School, Scotland. Research Assistant 1992-4, Research Associate 1994-1995, Research Fellow 1995-1997; Lecturer in Law 1997-2001; Senior Lecturer in Law 2001-. Neil Hutton, has held posts at the Universities of Dundee, Edinburgh and Victoria University Wellington New Zealand. Employed in the Law School at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland since 1990. Books include: Lay Participation in a Public Local Inquiry Gower 1986, Lay Justice (with Z Bankowski and J J McManus) T and T Clark 1987, Co editor (with Peter Duff) Criminal Justice in Scotland, Ashgate 1999,