The safety and security of the law-abiding citizen is a key priority of the coalition government. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their home and in their community. When that safety is threatened, those responsible should face a swift and effective response. People rely on the criminal justice system to deliver that response: punishing offenders, protecting the public, and reducing reoffending.
This article reviews the evidence regarding young women’s involvement in violent crime and, drawing on recent research carried out in HMPYOI Cornton Vale in Scotland, provides an overview of the characteristics, needs and deeds of young women sentenced to imprisonment for violent offending. Through the use of direct quotations, the article suggests that young women’s anger and aggression is often related to their experiences of family violence and abuse, and the acquisition of a negative worldview in which other people are considered as being ‘out to get you’ or ‘put one over on you’.
The study of decision-making by public officials in administrative settings has been a mainstay of law and society scholarship for decades. The methodological challenges posed by this research agenda are well understood: how can socio-legal researchers get inside the heads of legal decision-makers in order to understand the uses of official discretion?
A website resource of briefings, research reports, journal articles and books on the subject of crime and justice.
The Act, in tandem with the International Criminal Court Act 2001 ('the UK Act'), will enable the United Kingdom to ratify the Statute of the International Criminal Court, which was adopted on 17 July 1998 at Rome.
Imprisonment for Public Protection is an indeterminate sentence given to offenders who are categorised as 'dangerous' but whose offences do not carry a life sentence. This report presents the findings of research carried out on the mental health of IPP prisoners and makes recommendations to address problems identified.
Report highlighting the part which sentencing has played in the increase in the prison population in Scotland and identifying factors which may discourage sentencers from using custody and encourage them to make use of alternatives to custodial sentences.
The report provides good quality objective information about the way community sentences are used, key facts and figures relating to trends in their use, and information about the multiple needs of adult offenders serving community sentences. It is a vital resource for anybody interested in alternatives to custody. The report is part of the Community Sentences project of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies which was set up to investigate and monitor the Community Order and Suspended Sentence Order introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Report discussing how penal policy and sentencing can best contribute to reducing the prison population in Scotland while still maintaining public safety and suggesting some principles which would establish a presumption against the use of imprisonment as a means of punishment.
This podcast is part of the Glasgow School of Social Work Research Seminar Series. In this podcast Fergus McNeill and Dr. Nicola Burns talk about social enquiry and the new penology. There is also a PowerPoint presentation to accompany this podcast.