British Journal of Criminology - current issue

Scandinavian Exceptionalism in an Era of Penal Excess: Part II: Does Scandinavian Exceptionalism Have a Future?

Pratt, J. — 2008-04-17

Part II of this paper examines the current for prospects for Scandinavian exceptionalism. It argues that Finland, Norway and Sweden have all experienced, to a degree, declines in earlier levels of social solidarity, security and homogeneity, jeopardizing the future of their low levels of imprisonment and humane prison conditions. These experiences have not, though, been uniform—Sweden is now most at risk, the other two less so. The paper goes on to discuss the broader political and sociological implications of Scandinavian exceptionalism in the contemporary era of penal excess.

Measuring the Impact of Fraud in the UK: A Conceptual and Empirical Journey

Levi, M., Burrows, J. — 2008-04-17

This article examines the conceptual and empirical underpinnings of data on the cost of fraud—collected for a study conducted for the Association of Chief Police Officers and summarized in the article—and reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the data collection processes. It also raises broader questions about the relationship between crime control ideologies, institutional responsibilities, and what data on crime are kept and not kept; and concludes by reviewing the implications of recent strategies for enhancing fraud data collection.

Prisoners, Politics and the Polls: Enfranchisement and the Burden of Responsibility

Behan, C., O'Donnell, I. — 2008-04-17

In 2006, the Irish Government introduced legislation to allow prisoners to vote. Drawing on international developments in jurisprudence and criminal justice, this article examines the background to, and wider significance of, this change in the law. A lack of political and media opposition ensured the relatively unnoticed passage of this reform through Parliament. Prisoners had their first opportunity to exercise the franchise in 2007. While the number who registered was small, the turnout was relatively high. The seemingly benign desire to restore a measure of civic engagement to prisoners may conceal a narrow desire to see them lead law-abiding and ‘responsible’ lives rather than encouraging them to engage in a process of personal transformation or become reflective agents for change.

Reducing Recidivism: A Task for Restorative Justice?

Robinson, G., Shapland, J. — 2008-04-17

In this paper, we draw on our experience as evaluators of three restorative justice schemes in England and Wales which were funded under the auspices of the Home Office's ‘Crime Reduction Programme’ to reflect upon the theoretical and empirical potential of restorative justice (in particular, conferencing) to bring about reductions in reoffending on the part of participating offenders. We propose that there is a case to be made for a subtle shift in ways of thinking about the recidivism reduction potential of restorative justice: that is, as an opportunity to facilitate a desire, or consolidate a decision, to desist.

Restorative Justice and Child Sex Offences: The Theory and the Practice

Cossins, A. — 2008-04-17

Restorative justice advocates have made a number of claims about the effectiveness of restorative justice in relation to sexual assault crimes, such as its ability to defuse power relations between the parties and heal the harm. This article examines whether or not restorative justice is one of the ways forward in the difficult area of prosecuting child sex offences by re-analysing some of the data reported in Daly (2006) and comparing restorative justice with other reforms to the sexual assault trial. It concludes that there is insufficient evidence to support the view that there are inherent benefits in the restorative justice process that provide victims of sexual assault with a superior form of justice.

Anti-Social Behaviour, Behavioural Expectations and an Urban Aesthetic

Millie, A. — 2008-04-17

In recent years, the phrase ‘anti-social behaviour’ (ASB), as understood in a public order enforcement context, has gained prominence in the United Kingdom, to the extent that it is claimed we now live in an ‘ASBO nation’. In this article, the meaning of ASB is explored as a contested concept. The focus is on urban spaces, where it is argued that understandings of ASB are very much dependent on people's behavioural expectations for a particular space and time. Moreover, what is regarded as anti-social is also determined by social and cultural norms of aesthetic acceptability. A differential interpretation perspective is suggested, in which the same behaviour can be censured as ASB (or crime), tolerated, or even celebrated. The consequences are discussed.

Educational Attainment and Juvenile Crime: Area-Level Evidence Using Three Cohorts of Young People

Sabates, R. — 2008-04-17

This paper provides an estimate of the impact of educational attainment on juvenile conviction rates using information at the Local Education Authority in England. The empirical analysis uses aggregate conviction rates over time for three cohorts of young people, born between 1981 and 1983, and their corresponding educational attainments, poverty indicators, time away from school and school resources. Results using mixed-effects models show that the increase in educational attainment between cohorts is associated with reductions in conviction rates for most offences (burglary, theft, criminal damage and drug-related offences) but not for violent crime. Reductions in poverty are associated with decreasing conviction rates for violent crime, criminal damage and drug-related offences, whereas increasing unauthorized time away from school is associated with higher convictions rates for theft. The results are important, as they complement current empirical studies by looking at the impact of education on cohort-specific conviction rates over time and at the impact of education on different types of offences.

On the Game

Robinson, A. — 2008-04-17

Interrogating the Images: Audio-Visually Recorded Police Questioning of Suspects

Hayman, S. — 2008-04-17

Drugs and Popular Culture: Drugs, Media and Identity in Contemporary Society

Olley, N. — 2008-04-17

Criminal Enterprise: Individuals, Organisations and Criminal Responsibility

Minkes, J. — 2008-04-17

Refocusing Crime Prevention: Collective Action and the Quest for the Community

Schneider, J. L. — 2008-04-17

Forensic Identification and Criminal Justice: Forensic Science, Justice and Risk

Jones, I. — 2008-04-17