The Culture of Control: Choosing the Future.

Source: (2004) Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy. 7(2): 49-75.

This essay uses Garland’s framework from
The Culture of Control
to suggest
an agenda for critical penology. This includes, as well as the analysis of
choices actually made and the cultural repertoire actually available, describing
and advocating other possible choices, and analysing the conditions of
possibility for the adoption of other (better) policies and practices; and
examining the implications for the future of choices which are currently
being made. Carlen’s
Women and Punishment: The Struggle for Justice
and
Garland’s edited collection
Mass Imprisonment in the USA
are examples of
these penologies. Another way in which penologists, social theorists and
philosophers can attempt to influence policy choices is to contribute to
enlargement of the available cultural repertoire. The development and
promotion of restorative justice is given as one example of this; another is
work by philosophers such as Duff, Matravers and Norrie which addresses
questions such as the source, nature and limits of penal communities; the
basis of political obligation, and the relational nature of responsibility for
crime. Author’s abstract.