Rebecca Roberts

End of an error

Abstract At the time of writing, the expectation is that a general election will take place in the spring of 2010 and that there will be a significant shift in the balance of power within parliament. While the sense of fin de siecle is not quite as strong as experienced in spring 1997, there is no doubt that a change in management and tone is approaching and such a time provides an opportunity for reflection about the past and contemplation of what the future might hold for research, policy making and practice.

Is penal reform working? Community sentences and reform sector strategies: Helen Mills and Rebecca Roberts consider the opportunities and challenges for progressive penal reform followed by responses from George Mair, Jamie Bennett and Mick Ryan

One of three responses to article considering the opportunities and challenges for progressive penal reform - Mills, Helen and Roberts, Rebecca (2011) Is penal reform working? Community sentences and reform sector strategies, Volume 84, Issue 1, Criminal Justice Matters - Special Issue: Drugs. Includes responses from George Mair, Jamie Bennett and Mick Ryan.

Debating … Bad language in criminal justice?

Abstract The proliferation of ‘criminal justice talk’ – the number of words that are spoken and written about ‘crime’ and ‘criminal justice’ – in politics, media outlets, academia, and public policy is ever increasing and ever more widely accessible. This ‘debating’ section attempts to kick off a discussion about the use of criminal justice language which we can hopefully continue within the pages of cjm as well as through our Works for Freedom website: www.worksforfreedom.orgThe language used to portray women accused of murder is frequently lurid and stereotypical. It can be especially shocking when women stand accused of such crimes as it violates idealised notions of femininity as conformist and nurturing.

Getting away with murder

Abstract The themed section, ‘Violence of the British state’, guest edited by David Whyte, is timely in view of the UK Coalition governments pledge to ‘restore the rights of individuals in the face of encroaching state power, in keeping with Britains tradition of freedom and fairness’ (Cabinet Office, 2010). The articles in this issue offer evidence of the enormity of the task at hand. There are past and ongoing injustices at a national and international level that demand wider public scrutiny. The stark accounts of human suffering described are at times harrowing but all illustrate the range of harms permitted under the watch of the British state.

Confronting penal excess

Each year, in the United Kingdom more than two million of our fellow citizens are subject to some form of penal sanction, including imprisonment, house arrest, community punishment, fines, cautions and penalty notices. This will strike many as excessive.

Is penal reform working? Community sentences and reform sector strategies

One of three responses to article considering the opportunities and challenges for progressive penal reform - Mills, Helen and Roberts, Rebecca (2011) Is penal reform working? Community sentences and reform sector strategies, Volume 84, Issue 1, Criminal Justice Matters - Special Issue: Drugs. Includes responses from George Mair, Jamie Bennett and Mick Ryan.

Predicting the future in uncertain times

Abstract We are told that the British coalition government will continue with the previous administrations concern with ‘early intervention’ and a greater use of technology in the prediction and analysis of risk. David S Wall, guest editor of the themed section, introduces the topic of ‘pre-crime’, picking up on the science fiction film, ‘Minority Report’. He offers a warning against the dangers and limitations of predictive approaches to crime reduction and the tendency towards ‘social sorting’.

Justice and politics

Abstract At the time of writing in early May 2010, a new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has been announced and one can only speculate as to the shape of the new government and the impact on penal policy. While the issues of law and order, immigration and ‘broken Britain’ featured in party manifestos, they largely took a backseat to the economic problems we currently face. This is a somewhat distant cry from the mantra of ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’ that so skilfully symbolised New Labour ideology and helped seal their 1997 election victory.

Rebecca Roberts introduces this issue of cjm

Abstract While the pages of Criminal Justice Matters frequently examine and assess criminal justice policies and often make recommendations on how to reform the system, this edition takes a more reflexive approach. Rather than focus on the nature of criminal justice reforms, this issue of cjm shines a spotlight on the reformers.

Picturing crime, harm, and injustice

Abstract Imagery of harm and crime can offer powerful and moving representations of different forms of injustice. The What is crime? photography competition, held in 2008/09 by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies in collaboration with the Independent newspaper and funded by the Wates Foundation, provided an innovative and exciting way to explore these issues. Many of the entries are showcased in this issue of cjm. Tim Walkers article, (first published in the Independent) presents a number of the photographs.