NCJ Number
216906
Date Published
2006
Length
220 pages
Annotation
This book examines the relationship between social inequality, crime and, criminalization, in theory and practice.
Abstract
Using current social, economic, political, and cultural considerations it is argued that the fields of criminal justice and social justice are inseparable. In the past, these fields occupied different areas of study, research, and policy. However, over the last decade, criminal justice and social justice have witnessed significant changes and become closely aligned. The intent of this book is to illustrate the ways in which criminal justice and social justice are interconnected and interdependent concepts in contemporary Britain. The first chapter examines the different and competing conceptual understandings of criminal and social justice in contemporary Britain. The second chapter reviews the historical themes that have strengthened and formed the current understanding of the respective fields. Chapters three and four address current issues of theory, research, and policy with discussions on globalization, postmodernism, social capital, and criminalization, as well as issues of evidence-based policy (EBP). Chapters five and six examine the delivery of and associated outcomes of criminal justice and social justice policies under the New Labor governments. The final chapter brings together the themes that have emerged within the two fields and examines the ways in which policy initiatives have often led to contradictory and mutually defeating outcomes for both criminal and social justice. Figures and references