The Making of Criminal Justice Policy

Sue Hobbs · Christopher Hamerton

Oct 2014 · Routledge

About this ebook

This new textbook will provide students of criminology with a better understanding of criminal justice policy and, in doing so, offers a framework for analysing the social, economic and political processes that shape its creation. The book adopts a policy-oriented approach to criminal justice, connecting the study of criminology to the wider study of British government, public administration and politics.

Throughout the book the focus is on key debates and competing perspectives on how policy decisions are made. Recognising that contemporary criminal justice policymakers operate in a highly politicised, public arena under the gaze of an ever-increasing variety of groups, organisations and individuals who have a stake in a particular policy issue, the book explores how and why these people seek to influence policymaking. It also recognises that criminal policy differs from other areas of public policy, as policy decisions affect the liberty and freedoms of citizens. Throughout, key ideas and debates are linked to wider sociology, criminology and social policy theory.

Key features include:

• a foreword by Tim Newburn, leading criminologist and author of Criminology (2nd Edition, 2013),
• a critical and informed analysis of the concepts, ideas and institutional practices that shape criminal justice policy making,
• an exploration of the relationship between criminal justice and wider social policy,
• a critical analysis of the debate about how and why behaviour becomes defined as requiring a criminal justice solution,
• a range of case studies, tasks, seminar questions and suggested further readings to keep the student engaged.

This text is perfect for students taking modules in criminology; criminal justice; and social and public policy, as well as those taking courses on criminal and administrative law.

About the author

Sue Hobbs, the lead author, is currently part of a Home Office funded research team carrying out an independent investigation into criminal justice policy and practice since the 1980s.

She holds degrees in English Literature and Economic and Social History and Sociology and Social Policy from Manchester Polytechnic and Durham University. She has wide practice experience in the area of criminal justice, and is a former Senior Probation Officer. She worked for 8 years as a Senior Lecturer in Community Justice teaching on probation qualifying degree programme before joining Kingston University as a Senior Lecturer in Criminology in 2006. She retired from teaching in 2012. She retains an active interest in Probation practice and policy development. She recently undertook research for the National Offender Management Service into the transition of young adult offenders from the youth to the adult offending services, and has acted as an academic advisor to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Christopher Hamerton is currently Senior Lecturer specialising in Socio-Legal Studies and Criminology at Kingston University, where he leads the MA Cybercrime degree. He is also Director of Legal Studies in the Departmental Research Centre, where his role encompasses direction and leadership in socio-legal research. Christopher holds degrees in Law (LLB (Hons), BCL) and Criminal Justice (MA) as a graduate of the Universities of Oxford and Southampton. In addition, he is a Barrister of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (FRAI) in 2008. He is co-author with Julia Davidson of International Perspectives on Child Victimisation, also published by Routledge. His criminal justice policy research interests include theoretical perspectives on the criminal justice process, legal pluralism, and international responses to globalised crime.