Understanding the Determinants of Penal Policy: Crime, Culture, and Comparative Political Economy
Discussion
In the criminology review, “Understanding the Determinants of Penal Policy: Crime, Culture, and Comparative Political Economy” the authors outline the main explanatory paradigms of penal policy. That is varying organizational frameworks in political economies, cultural dynamics, economic structures and interest (Lacey, Nicola, David 198). Today, politicians and the criminal justice system practitioners who are responsible for the development of penal policies usually prioritize response to crime as their primary objective. In some instances, politicians use offence a tool during polls to gain political dominance. All in all, crime constitutes are vital determinants of penal policy. And this is usually evident from the fact that punishments cases go up when the rates of unemployment escalate, and this explains how punishment methods change with time. Besides, incarceration comes as a result of capitalism as an efficient penal instrument that can store labour without destroying its value. Today, the United States is a leader in the rates of as compared to other countries to similar economies. Of course, crime is not the sole determinant of incarceration, and all the other factors play a vital role in influencing the rates of imprisonment. For instance, In the United States, the number of African Americans in prison is usually higher than other races, and this justifies that cultural aspects affect imprisonment. The racial difference has been a significant factor concerning the vast social difference in the United States. The economic transformation of the Fordism era had substantial impacts on low skilled employees. In that, they lost their jobs and had to work in poor conditions. All in all, varying organizational frameworks in political economies, cultural dynamics, economic structures and interest play a vital role in shaping penal policy. In the United States, African Americans are highly imprisoned, and this justifies the vast difference in the levels between the United States and nations with similar economies.
Work Cited
Lacey, Nicola, David Soskice. “Understanding the determinants of penal policy: Crime, culture, and comparative political economy.” Annual Review of Criminology