NCJ Number
181257
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 1998 Pages: 106-123
Editor(s)
Richard Sparks
Date Published
1998
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Recognizing that the postmodern argument in the punishment literature is in its formative beginnings, and that achievements in applying a postmodern framework to the study of punishment have been speculative and empirically narrow to date, the current study explores contemporary penalty as it exists for those working in the penal system.
Abstract
Three salient trends are identified: penalty as a balancing act, corporate penalty, and offender subsidization of penalty. Modern and postmodern interpretations are considered in the analysis of the trends. The author concludes that contemporary penalty is not qualitatively different from past penalty and therefore is best understood in the context of modernity. Specifically, penal objectives, practices, and philosophies continue to reflect the modern themes of normalization, classification, treatment, rationality, efficiency, and progress. Although postmodern conceptions are capable of generating unique interpretations of contemporary penal trends and these conceptions represent a provocative theoretical construct, postmodern analysis appears to be lacking sufficient empirical foundation. 104 references and 3 footnotes