Aaron Pycroft

This book highlights the significance of René Girard's work for key criminological debates to provide new perspectives. Girard explores the causes of violence in humans and his work is used to interpret cultural phenomena related to criminology and victimology. The book focuses in particular on Girard’s cultural anthropology of the victim as being foundational to social order. The scapegoat mechanism, as developed by Girard, is an anthropological reading of myth which provides a site of rich dialogue with criminology, victimology, theology and philosophy. The book explores how this provides readers with ontological, epistemological and methodological tools for both explaining and changing the practices of justice.

Drawing on criminology, philosophy and theology, this book develops a theory of ‘redemptive criminology’ for practice in criminal justice settings. The therapeutic impulse for the text is a focus on the individual practitioner’s ability to embrace difference with the other, to resist harsh penal measures and to bring about change from ‘the bottom up’. By challenging concepts and practices of rehabilitation, the authors argue for the possibility of redemption and for forgiveness as the starting point. Using real-life examples and an interpretative approach, the book explores the connections between victims, perpetrators and the community. The text articulates challenges for the justice system and offers new insights into punishment and retribution.

Drawing on criminology, philosophy and theology, this book develops a theory of ‘redemptive criminology’ for practice in criminal justice settings. The therapeutic impulse for the text is a focus on the individual practitioner’s ability to embrace difference with the other, to resist harsh penal measures and to bring about change from ‘the bottom up’. By challenging concepts and practices of rehabilitation, the authors argue for the possibility of redemption and for forgiveness as the starting point. Using real-life examples and an interpretative approach, the book explores the connections between victims, perpetrators and the community. The text articulates challenges for the justice system and offers new insights into punishment and retribution.