Official History of Criminal Justice in England and Wales: Volume I: The 'Liberal Hour'

The Official History of Criminal Justice in England and Wales, Volume I, provides an overview of crime and criminal justice in the 1960s, before describing the liberalizing legislation of the decade. Commissioned by the Cabinet Office and using interviews, British Government records, and papers housed in private and institutional collections, it is the first of a collaboratively written series of official histories that analyze the evolution of criminal justice between 1959 and 1997. The book outlines the genesis of three key criminal justice Acts that redefined the relations between the State and citizen and shaped the spirit of the age, including the abolition of capital punishment, the reform of the laws on abortion and homosexuality, and the passing of the Criminal Justice Act 1967.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 592 pages
\n Publication date: 29 April 2019
\n Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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The Official History of Criminal Justice in England and Wales, Volume I, provides a comprehensive account of crime and criminal justice in the 1960s, preceding the liberalizing legislation of the decade. Commissioned by the Cabinet Office and utilizing a range of sources, including interviews, British Government records, private and institutional collections, this inaugural volume in a series of collaboratively written official histories aims to analyze the evolution of criminal justice between 1959 and 1997.

The book begins with an introduction that outlines the inception of the series and provides an overview of the knowledge about crime and criminal justice at the time. It then delves into the genesis of three pivotal criminal justice Acts that profoundly impacted the relationship between the State and citizens and shaped the prevailing societal attitudes. These Acts included the abolition of capital punishment, the reform of abortion and homosexuality laws, and the introduction of new measures to combat crime.

Despite the contentious moral and political implications of these Acts, Governments of different political persuasions hesitated to promote them formally. Instead, the responsibility fell on backbenchers, who were supported by interlocking groups of reformers who possessed a collective understanding of how to effectively organize a rhetoric that drew on the language of utilitarianism and the authority of the Church of England. This approach played a significant and largely unacknowledged role in resolving complex moral dilemmas.

The Official History of Criminal Justice in England and Wales, Volume I, is a valuable resource for students of criminology, British history, politics, and law. It offers a detailed account of the historical context and legislative developments that shaped criminal justice in the 1960s and beyond, providing insights into the social, political, and ethical considerations that influenced these changes. By examining the interplay between government, society, and individual behavior, this book sheds light on the complex dynamics that have shaped the criminal justice system in England and Wales over the past several decades.

\n Weight: 227g\n
Dimension: 201 x 132 x 13 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781138601673\n \n