Book review: Dynamic security: The democratic therapeutic community in prison, M. Parker (ed.). Foreword by J. Gunn. London & Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007. 288 pp. (including index). ISBN-13: 978 1 84310 385 1, ISBN-10: 1 84310 385 0
| Author | Guy Shefer |
| DOI | 10.1177/14624745070090040409 |
| Published date | 01 October 2007 |
| Date | 01 October 2007 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
economic conditions for all children inclusively; which embraces diversion from formal
justice interventions for the bulk of young people and employs a child-appropriate
approach for those few for whom formal intervention is required; which embraces
abolitionism; and which reverses the demonization of particular groups of young people
through the depoliticization of youth crime and through encouraging tolerance.
However, as with most critical criminological analyses that expose the reality behind
the rhetoric – or which provide, as Youth crime and justice does, ‘reflective in-
terpretation[s] of how any discordance between “evidence” and policy formation might
be conceived’ (p. xi) – one is left wondering just what ought to happen next if more
concordance is the aim. In light of the increasing mediatization of youth crime and the
political cynicism and opportunism that shape the contradictory responses to it in most
of the countries in these books, how could such a principled youth justice be achieved?
How can youth justice be depoliticized? Criminologists are often better at providing well-
reasoned critique than at offering politically achievable alternatives. Goldson and Muncie
themselves mention the importance of informing the public to correct the ‘skewed
reading of public opinion’ (p. 225) upon which much of the political rationale for a
punitive youth justice is premised. This is a useful start, but it is certainly time we had
a more comprehensive consideration of these pragmatic issues of implementation.
Perhaps then even a third slice of the salami is in order, one which would focus on just
how to contest and engage with those forces driving populist-punitive youth justice and
how to implement principled alternatives. In the meantime, however, these two remark-
able books teach us a great deal and give us plenty to think about.
References
Cavadino, M. and J. Dignan (2006) Penal systems: A comparative approach. London:
Sage Publications.
Pratt, J., D. Brown, M. Brown, S. Hallsworth and W. Morrison (eds) (2005) The new
punitiveness: Trends, theories, perspectives. Cullompton, Devon: Willan.
Roberts, J.V., L.J. Stalans, D. Indermaur and M. Hough (2003) Penal populism and
public opinion: Lessons from five countries. New York: Oxford University Press.
Tonry, M. (ed.) (2007) Crime and justice, volume 36: Crime, punishment, and politics in
a comparative perspective. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Tonry, M. and T. Doob (eds) (2004) Crime and justice, volume 31: Youth crime and
youth justice: Comparative and cross-national perspectives. Chicago, IL: University of
Chicago Press.
David A. Green
Oxford University, UK
Dynamic security: The democratic therapeutic community in prison, M. Parker (ed.).
Foreword by J. Gunn. London & Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007.
288 pp. (including index). ISBN-13: 978 1 84310 385 1, ISBN-10: 1 84310 385 0.
Dynamic security is a collection of essays about different aspects of the theory, practice
and management of prison wings, which operate a democratic therapeutic community
(TC) regime.
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