Book review: Offenders or Citizens?: Readings in Rehabilitation
| Date | 01 June 2012 |
| Author | Jon Mathews |
| Published date | 01 June 2012 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0264550512438803 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
Book reviews
Book reviews
Offenders or Citizens?: Readings in
Rehabilitation
P Priestley and M Vanstone (eds)
Willan Publishing; 2010; pp 330; £29.99, pbk
ISBN: 978-1-84392-529-3
Priestly and Vanstone have collected a vast and diverse range of
extracts for (re)publication with a view to shedding light on the
issue of rehabilitation. Set in the context of the continued rise of punitive responses to
crime within the UK and US, this book seeks to stimulate debate about how best to
rehabilitate those who transgress society’s rules in the 21st century. The question in
the title is, of course, rhetorical, with the editors clearly favouring the term ‘citizen’
given the implied respect for the individual and openness to positive futures.
The book is divided into three sections, covering three roughly distinct time
periods from the perspective of the rehabilitation theme. Part One focuses on the
historical roots and early forms of rehabilitation. The section begins by exploring
the interchange between religion and science through the eyes of Beccaria and
Bentham before going on to explore the origins of probation work through the
concept of recognizance and its practical application in 19th century courts on
both sides of the Atlantic. Contrasting attitudes to determinism and free will are
considered, culminating in the compromise offered by Salleille which encourages
a focus on the differing levels of freedom exercised by those who commit criminal
acts. The emergence of casework and the primary role given to psychological
processes as a vehicle for intervention is evidenced in a range of articles from the
early to mid 20th century. Practice examples, theoretical arguments and
explorations of casework values all contribute to a detailed picture of the devel-
oping orthodoxy.
Part Two explores the various challenges to rehabilitation that arose during the
latter half of the 20th century. The section begins with various criticisms of the
treatment ideal including CS Lewis’ focus on human rights and Barbara Wootton’s
criticism of psychoanalysis as a means of dealing with bad behaviour. Despite these
Probation Journal
59(2) 171–178
ªThe Author(s) 2011
Reprints and permissions:
sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0264550512438803
prb.sagepub.com
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
To continue reading
Request your trial