Key Ideas in Criminology

Rob Canton's book 'Punishment' somehow manages to be both erudite and engaging; both succinct and surprisingly comprehensive. Canton traverses and connects criminological, philosophical and sociological thinking about punishment - as well as drawing the reader closer to its realities in practice and as a lived experience. But there is more here than an elegant synthesis of all of these kinds of knowledge; there is also a series of wise challenges and cautions about when, how and why we punish, and with what consequences -- not just for those directly concerned, but for the kinds of societies we wish to construct, inhabit and develop. I thoroughly recommend this excellent book to anyone who cares about these questions; and we all ought to care about these questions!

Fergus McNeill, Professor of Criminology & Social Work, University of Glasgow

Over the past centuries countless books have been published on punishment. However, most authors write exclusively from one angle, that is, they approach state punishment as a legal, philosophical, historical, psychological or sociological problem, puzzle or panacea. Few have been able to accomplish what Professor Rob Canton, one of Europe's most astute observers of punishment, does in this fairly short yet highly readable text: Canton offers the reader a truly multidisciplinary coverage of the complex, troubling, colourful and fascinating practice of punishment in its various contemporary forms, from the modern prison to probation, from electronic monitoring to monetary sanctions.

Tom Daems, Professor of Criminology, Leuven Institute of Criminology, KU Leuven, Belgium

Rob Canton's Punishment is an intensely thoughtful and beautifully written contribution that reflects its author's long and deep practical and scholarly engagements with the subject. Canton is always lucid, never dogmatic. His account continually reminds us of the ethical and emotional complexities of this troubling topic. Punishment deserves to be read widely and closely by students and practitioners alike.

Richard Sparks, Professor of Criminology, University of Edinburgh