Crime and Punishment in Britain

The Penal System in Theory, Law, and Practice

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Crimes & Criminals, Criminology
Cover of the book Crime and Punishment in Britain by Russell Smith, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Russell Smith ISBN: 9781351525091
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: October 3, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Russell Smith
ISBN: 9781351525091
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: October 3, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

This book, first published in 1965, describes the British penal system as it existed in the 1960s. It describes how the system defined, accounted for, and disposed of offenders. As an early work in criminology, it focuses on differences between, and changes in, the views held by legislators, lawyers, philosophers, and the man in the street on the topic of crime and punishment. Walker is interested in the extent to which their views reflect the facts established and the theories propounded by psychologists, anthropologists, and sociologists.

The confusion between criminologists and penal reformers was initially encouraged by criminologists themselves, many of whom were penal reformers. Strictly speaking, penal reform, according to Walker, was a spare-time occupation for criminologists, just as canvassing for votes is an ancillary task for political scientists. The difference is that the criminologist's spare-time occupation is more likely to take a ""moral"" form, and when it does so it is more likely to interfere with what should be purely criminological thoughts.

The machinery of justice involves the interaction of human beings in their roles of victim, offender, policeman, judge, supervisor, or custodian, and there must be a place for human sympathy in the understanding, and still more in the treatment, of individual offenders. This book is concerned with the efficiency of the system as a means to these ends. One of the main reasons why penal institutions have continued to develop more slowly than other social services is that they are a constant battlefield between emotions and prejudices. This is a great empirical study; against which the policy-maker and criminologist can measure progress or regression in British criminals and punishments.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book, first published in 1965, describes the British penal system as it existed in the 1960s. It describes how the system defined, accounted for, and disposed of offenders. As an early work in criminology, it focuses on differences between, and changes in, the views held by legislators, lawyers, philosophers, and the man in the street on the topic of crime and punishment. Walker is interested in the extent to which their views reflect the facts established and the theories propounded by psychologists, anthropologists, and sociologists.

The confusion between criminologists and penal reformers was initially encouraged by criminologists themselves, many of whom were penal reformers. Strictly speaking, penal reform, according to Walker, was a spare-time occupation for criminologists, just as canvassing for votes is an ancillary task for political scientists. The difference is that the criminologist's spare-time occupation is more likely to take a ""moral"" form, and when it does so it is more likely to interfere with what should be purely criminological thoughts.

The machinery of justice involves the interaction of human beings in their roles of victim, offender, policeman, judge, supervisor, or custodian, and there must be a place for human sympathy in the understanding, and still more in the treatment, of individual offenders. This book is concerned with the efficiency of the system as a means to these ends. One of the main reasons why penal institutions have continued to develop more slowly than other social services is that they are a constant battlefield between emotions and prejudices. This is a great empirical study; against which the policy-maker and criminologist can measure progress or regression in British criminals and punishments.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Intimate Betrayal by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Questioning Slavery by Russell Smith
Cover of the book The Strategic Grant-seeker by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Shifting Priorities in Russia's Foreign and Security Policy by Russell Smith
Cover of the book The Palestinian Military by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Family Therapy Around the World by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Cultural History and Education by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Anatomy and Anatomists in Early Modern Spain by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Social Work in Ambulatory Care by Russell Smith
Cover of the book The Art of Joaquín Torres-García by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Russia and the Idea of Europe by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Recovering Intimacy in Love Relationships by Russell Smith
Cover of the book Gay Men at Midlife by Russell Smith
Cover of the book The Delinquent Solution (Routledge Revivals) by Russell Smith
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy