Exploring the mandatory life sentence for murder Barry Mitchell and Julian V. Roberts.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mitchell, Barry, 1952- author.

Roberts, Julian V., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Life imprisonment--England.

Life imprisonment.

Life imprisonment--Wales.

Murder--England.

Murder.

Murder--Wales.

Mandatory sentences--England.

Mandatory sentences.

Mandatory sentences--Wales.

Sentences (Criminal procedure)--England--Public opinion.

Sentences (Criminal procedure).

Sentences (Criminal procedure)--Wales--Public opinion.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (197 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford, United Kingdom Hart Publishing 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Murder is often regarded as both the 'ultimate' and a unique crime, and whereas courts are normally given discretion in sentencing offenders, for murder the sentence is mandatory - indeterminate imprisonment. Since the crime and the punishment come as a 'package deal' this book looks at both the legal nature of the offence and at the current operation of the mandatory life sentence. Not only does the book adopt a critical approach, by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the status quo, it also draws upon comparative material from both common and civil law jurisdictions in an attempt to provide a comprehensive exploration of these issues. The need for public confidence in the criminal justice system is particularly acute in the way it deals with the most serious homicides. In this book the authors report findings from the first systematic exploration of public attitudes to sentencing murder in this or any other common law jurisdiction. The picture of public opinion emerging from this recent large-scale nationwide qualitative and quantitative survey, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is likely to surprise many, and will be of interest to all jurisdictions where the mandatory life sentence for murder has been questioned

Contents:

Defining murder and other forms of criminal homicide

Origins of the mandatory life sentence by murder

The mandatory life sentence for murder: the status quo overview

Making the case for and against the mandatory life sentence

Public knowledge of trends in crime and punishment

Public attitudes to sentencing in cases of murder

Exploring the relationship between information and attitudes to sentencing

Reforming the sentence for murder: the way forward

Introduction

1: Defining Murder and Other Forms of Criminal Homicide

2: Origins of the Mandatory Life Sentence for Murder

3: The Mandatory Life Sentence for Murder: the Status Quo

4: Making the Case For and Against the Mandatory Life Sentence

5: Public Knowledge of Trends in Crime and Punishment

6: Public Attitudes to Sentencing in Cases of Murder

7: Exploring the Relationship between Information and Attitudes to Sentencing

8: Reforming the Sentence for Murder: the Way Forward

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-170) and index

ISBN:

9781472561213

147256121X

9781299403147

129940314X

9781782250258

1782250255

OCLC:

830164644