What is crime? What scares us about it and why? Which “anti-social” behaviors are deemed criminal and which aren’t and why? What causes crime: nature, nurture/environment, other? How and why do we treat violent crime differently than property crime and differently than white collar crime? Should the number or race, gender, class of victims or perpetrators or the dollar amount matter? Why do crime rates vary significantly among countries, cultures, and over time? What are the political dimensions of crime? What “works” and what doesn’t in law enforcement; how many functions does it perform; and how can we best police ourselves? How do different due process protections, civil rights, and court systems affect crime and punishment?
Why do we punish crime: to deter future crimes, to punish offenders, to keep them off the street and keep society safe? If crime rates are generally falling, why do we still have some of the highest crime rates in the developed world? Why have crime rates been declining (generally)? Why do we have the world’s highest incarceration rates–and higher than in our past? What are the alternatives to incarceration? What’s worked, what hasn’t? What can we afford and what are we willing to pay?
The discussion project will explore these and other interrelated questions and concerns about crime, punishment, and our criminal justice system in general.
This project is in the recruitment stage. Panel discussions are expected to begin the fall of 2011. Please contact Pete, the Project Manager, if you are interested in participating and/or would like more information.
Crime & Punishment
Project Manager: Pete Shively
Why do we punish crime: to deter future crimes, to punish offenders, to keep them off the street and keep society safe? If crime rates are generally falling, why do we still have some of the highest crime rates in the developed world? Why have crime rates been declining (generally)? Why do we have the world’s highest incarceration rates–and higher than in our past? What are the alternatives to incarceration? What’s worked, what hasn’t? What can we afford and what are we willing to pay?
The discussion project will explore these and other interrelated questions and concerns about crime, punishment, and our criminal justice system in general.
This project is in the recruitment stage. Panel discussions are expected to begin the fall of 2011. Please contact Pete, the Project Manager, if you are interested in participating and/or would like more information.