Review: When Brute Force Fails: How to have less crime and less punishment

from Robert H. Frank's review in the New York Times:

Law enforcement policy in the United States rests implicitly on the “rational actor” model of traditional economics, which holds that people take only those actions whose benefits exceed their costs.

This model says that crime will be deterred if the expected punishment is strong enough — a prediction that has not been borne out in practice. Although long sentences are now common and the incarceration rate is five times what it was during most of the 20th century, the crime rate is still two and a half times the average of 1950-62.

Dec 15, 2009 Retribution, Theory

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John Braithwaite video introduction to restorative justice

John Braithwaite is a leader in restorative justice (and in many other fields). He teaches at Australian National University which has now posted an 18 minute video in which he explains the basic theories and applications of restorative justice. 

It is well done, and is presented in segments, which means it can be used in whole or in part.

Dec 02, 2009 Limitations, Definition, Dialogue, Retribution, Theory, Indigenous, Shaming, Distinguishing, Conceptual, Potential

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