Develpment of crime, social change, mass media, crime policy, sanctioning practice and thier impact on prison population rates
01 Jan 2009-Vol. 1, Iss: 1, pp 0001-21
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose that the two trends that contribute to the enlargement of the prison incarceration rates, the larger time served by prisoners and the criminalization of new phenomena, will continue in the future.
Abstract: Spain has suffered a big increase of imprisonment between 1980 and 2006, passing from an average prison population of 17,000 prisoners in 1980 to 63,000 in 2006, meaning a growth of 266% in average prison population in 26 years. In order to explore the reasons for this increase in prison population, this paper proposes that is useful to distinguish two main periods: a) 1980-1994 (increase in prison population, followed by stability between 1995 and 2000, and b) 2001-2006 (a second increase in prison population). During these two periods, the growth of incarceration rates is higher in the first period (12% average increase per year) than in the second (6% average increase per year). More recent trends seem to announce an even more pronounced escalation of imprisonment in the foreseeable future. Authors proposes that the two trends that in Spain contribute to the enlargement of the prison incarceration rates, the larger time served by prisoners and the criminalization of new phenomena, will continue in the future.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the features of the Spanish criminal justice system from the perspective of the late-democratisation of Spanish polity, characterised by an almost uninterrupted penal expansionism and a relatively prominent level of severity.
Abstract: When analysing the features of the Spanish criminal justice system from the perspective of the late-democratisation of the Spanish polity, the system's evolution is characterised by an almost uninterrupted penal expansionism and a relatively prominent level of severity. This paper examines those features from the viewpoints of the legal reforms, institutional practices and collective perceptions and expectations experienced since the end of the dictatorial period. In addition, the article explores some reasons which may explain the relatively high punitiveness of the Spanish criminal justice system, before adding a coda on the changes of the penal system fostered by the Great Recession.
14 citations
Cites background or result from "Develpment of crime, social change,..."
...As a consequence, even though the passage of the 1995 Penal Code led to the prompt release of a limited number of inmates,9 its harshness sustained the constant and pronounced growth of the prison population during the 2000s (Cid Moliné, 2008; Cid and Larrauri, 2009)....
[...]
...…is also characterised by a high level of severity.7 In fact, according to Eurostat data, Spain has a crime rate markedly lower than those of other major EU countries; though not lower than those of other Southern European countries (Dı́ez Ripollés, 2006a, 2011, see also Cid and Larrauri, 2009)....
[...]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine how a post-Franco Spain emerged to embrace elements of popular punitivism, most notably the use of prisons, while embracing a penal structure and philosophy that is reintegrative at its core.
Abstract: In the last decade, an increasing number of scholars have discussed and articulated embracement of popular punitivism within Spain. The discourse while vital to the study of popular punitivism has missed an important element, specific to the cultural mediators present within the nation. As the current discourse has missed this vital component, the intent of this article is to examine how a post-Franco Spain emerged to embrace elements of popular punitivism, most notably the use of prisons, while embracing a penal structure and philosophy that is reintegrative at its core. As such, it is offered that the cultural factors present within the nation have enabled it to mitigate some of the most harmful characteristics of popular punitivism
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a case study of anti-austerity protests in Spain from 2011 to 2014 constitutes an example of how neoliberal developments are facilitated by the penal system as it limits political resistances to the imposition of precarious working conditions and social cuts.
Abstract: The repression of anti-austerity protests in Spain from 2011 to 2014 constitutes an example of how neoliberal developments are facilitated by the penal system as it limits political resistances to the imposition of precarious working conditions and social cuts. The limits imposed on contentious politics are both material (consisting of banning acts that are prominent in social movement’s repertoire of contention, fining demonstrators, etc.) and symbolic (consisting of transforming the meaning of legitimate politics by imposing new legal and political definitions). This case study is used to illustrate the interconnection between labor markets, social policies and the repression of social protest, and to elaborate on Wacquant’s approach to the relationship between punishment and other social institutions. It is at such times of political and economic crisis when institutional interconnections seem particularly exposed, arguably enabling more profound analyses.
8 citations
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: The reforma as mentioned in this paper introduced importantes modificaciones relativas a la pena de prision in el Codigo penal espanol that afectan, sobre todo, al limite maximo de cumplimiento efectivo of the pena of prision en cases of acumulacion de penas por varios delitos and a las condiciones for acceder al tercer grado and a la libertad condicional.
Abstract: integro y efectivo de las penas, ha introducido importantes modificaciones relativas a la pena de prision en el Codigo penal espanol que afectan, sobre todo, al limite maximo de cumplimiento efectivo de la pena de prision en casos de acumulacion de penas por varios delitos y a las condiciones para acceder al tercer grado y a la libertad condicional. En este comentario se exponen y analizan criticamente los terminos de la reforma.
6 citations
01 Jan 2017
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the adaptation of Spanish legislation and penal practices to European prison policies and explored to what extent these changes can be related to the reports of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
Abstract: Democratic Spain can be studied as an example of adaptation of its legislation and penal practices to European prison policies. Since the Spanish transition to democracy started after the death of Franco (1975), Spain has transformed radically its legislation and practices related to imprisonment. Among the main aspects of this transformation are the introduction of a system of alternatives to imprisonment (which has significantly reduced the number of admissions to prison), the high standard of prisoners’ rights and quality of life in Spanish institutions and the opportunities given to prisoners for rehabilitation and resettlement. This chapter explores to what extent these changes can be related to the reports of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). However, in some other aspects Spanish penal practices are less adapted to European policies: the increase in the length of imprisonment and the lack of a universal system of early release are features that seem in contradiction with the recommendations of the Council of Europe. Explanations for these gaps are explored.
5 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: The authors argued that the nature of this political alliance extends the repertory of penality simultaneously in ''nostalgic'' (neo-conservative) and ''innovative'' (no-liberal) directions, resulting in considerable incoherence.
Abstract: Criminologists have recognized that contemporary penal policy and practice are characterized by an unusual degree of incoherence and volatility. Garland (1996) sees this as evidence of the limits of the sovereign state, Simon (1995) as a sign of the postmodern disintegration of modern penality, while others explain it in terms of the emergence of advanced liberalism and neo-liberal politics. This article argues that such incoherence is better understood in terms of the contradictory elements of New Right politics. The nature of this political alliance extends the repertory of penality simultaneously in `nostalgic' (neo-conservative) and `innovative' (neo-liberal) directions, resulting in considerable incoherence. At the same time, the conservative orientation to state authoritarian strategies and the neo-liberal leaning toward market and private sector governance, could account for the volatility. This brings into question some of the accounts based on more fundamental social transformations.
372 citations
Book•
23 Nov 2005
TL;DR: Downes as discussed by the authors discusses the United States of America Law and Order Ideology, Hyperincarceration, and Looming Crisis in South Africa, and the transition from Apartheid Germany Archetypal Corporatism The Netherlands A Beacon of Tolerance Dimmed France and Italy Corporatism and Catholicism Sweden and Finland Nordic Social Democracy Japan Iron Fist in a Velvet Penal Glove.
Abstract: Foreword - David Downes PART ONE: ABOUT COMPARATIVE PENOLOGY Introducing Comparative Penology PENAL SYSTEMS IN CRISIS? Globalized Penal Crisis? The United States of America Law and Order Ideology, Hyperincarceration and Looming Crisis England and Wales Stop-Go and the Upwards Zig-Zag Australia and New Zealand Neo-Liberal Punitiveness Down Under South Africa The Transition From Apartheid Germany Archetypal Corporatism The Netherlands A Beacon of Tolerance Dimmed France and Italy Corporatism and Catholicism Sweden and Finland Nordic Social Democracy Japan Iron Fist in a Velvet Penal Glove PART TWO: PATTERNS OF PENALITY Comparative Youth Justice Neo-Liberal Youth Justice Systems Youth Justice Systems: Corporatist Variants General Patterns in Youth Justice? Prison Privatization PART THREE: IN CONCLUSION 'A Boot Stamping on a Human Face Forever?'
364 citations
Journal Article•
[...]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate why a container ship is GIFT-WRAPPED for crooks, and they find that crime is COSTING the CONTAINER BUSINESS at least US$285 million a year.
Abstract: 8 ASUBTITLE: CRIME IS COSTING THE CONTAINER BUSINESS AT LEAST US$285 MILLION A YEAR: EDWARD CROWLEY INVESTIGATES WHY CONTAINERISED CARGO IS GIFT-WRAPPED FOR CRIMINALS.
191 citations