Criminology and Public Theology: On Hope, Mercy and Restoration

At a time when criminal justice systems appear to be in a permanent state of crisis, in this collection leading scholars from criminology and theology have come together to challenge criminal justice orthodoxy by questioning the dominance of retributive punishment. The book is a timely and unique contribution that considers alternatives which draw on Christian ideas of hope, mercy and restoration, rather than the norms of punishment, pain and retribution. Contributions focus on punishment, although wider criminal justice concerns in policing and probation, as well as mental health and surveillance are also considered. Promoting cross-disciplinary learning, the book is of interest to academics and students of criminology, public theology, socio-legal studies, legal philosophy and religious studies, as well as practitioners and policy makers. If the ideas discussed in this book are taken seriously they offer a fundamental challenge to the contemporary view of criminal justice.