The New Punitiveness: Trends, Theories, Perspectives

Throughout much of the western world more and more people are being sent to prison, one of a number of changes inspired by a 'new punitiveness' in penal and political affairs. This book seeks to understand these developments, bringing together leading authorities in the field to provide a wide-ranging analysis of new penal trends, compare the development of differing patterns of punishment across different types of societies, and to provide a range of theoretical analyses and commentaries to help understand their significance.

As well as increases in imprisonment this book is also concerned to address a number of other aspects of 'the new punitiveness': firstly, the return of a number of forms of punishment previously thought extinct or inappropriate, such as the return of shaming punishments and chain gangs (in parts of the USA); and secondly, the increasing public involvement in penal affairs and penal development, for example in relation to length of sentences and the California Three Strikes Law, and a growing accreditation of the rights of victims.

The book will be essential reading for students seeking to understand trends and theories of punishment on law, criminology, penology and other courses.

John Pratt is Professor of Criminology, and James Cook Research Fellow in Social Science at the Institute of Criminology, at the Victoria University of Wellington.

David Brown is Associate Professor in the Asia Research Centre at Murdoch University, Australia.

Mark Brown is a Lecturer in the School of Social and Political Sciences, Melbourne University. His primary reserearch interests encompass penality, corrections, and colonial penal history.

Simon Hallsworth is Director of the Universities Centre for Social Evaluation Research, and Principal Lecturer in the Department of Applied Social Science at London Metropolitan University.

Wayne Morrison works within the Edexcel Foundation External Programme for Law, UK.