Inequality and Republican Criminology (From Crime and Inequality, P 277-305, 1995, John Hagan and Ruth D. Peterson, eds. - See NCJ-157570)

• NCJ Number: 157582
• Author(s): J Braithwaite
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 29 pages
• Sale Source: Stanford University Press
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses the concept of republican criminology, and argues that the struggle for equality and checking of power is central to republican political theory.

Abstract

Republican theory holds that the most serious crime problems are those that society is in the best position to reduce; the changes needed to effect these reductions have gained attention and momentum in some Western countries, such as Australia, since the mid-1970's. Republicans are morally committed to both political and economic equality and to community involvement in disapproving of criminality (shaming). These commitments leads to support for certain progressive social movements as a means of responding to crime problems. The author concludes that people who are involved in drunk driving, white-collar crimes, domestic violence, or drug offenses will more likely be deterred by societal shaming than by a State law enforcement policy.