Moral Economy, Criminal Justice and Probation: From 1979 to 2010

Abstract

This chapter puts moral economy to work in the criminal justice system, with specific consideration awarded to probation. I am directly concerned to explore the changing coordinates of the system of justice from 1979–92, 1992–97 and 1997–2010. This 31 year period incorporates conservative (18 years) and New Labour (13 years) administrations. The central task is to expose criminal justice to the charge of moral vacuity, contingent upon repeated political assaults on probation, particularly after 1992.