Criminal Justice and the Pursuit of Decency

A succession of miscarriages of justice have led many to doubt the view that British justice is the best in the world. Issues such as prison overcrowding and electronic tagging have also highlighted the way in which we treat offenders.In this pioneering study, Andrew Rutherford examines the beliefs and sentiments of those working within the criminal justice process. Prompting his work was the conviction that it is the values held by practitioners that shape and determine policy. He interviewed senior professionals in the police, the courts, and the prosecution, probation, and prison services. Although the interviews show that there are professionals who hold liberal and humane values, the book makes disturbing reading and raises important questions about the operation of criminal justice in Britain.