Community psychology and injustice in the criminal justice system

Abstract

In this short paper, we consider the partnership between psychology and the criminal justice system in Western societies and critically reflect on the notion of criminal justice as expressed in such a system. Focusing on how the criminal justice system operates in the UK, and in particular in Scotland, we consider the way the system criminalizes those who previously have been socially and economically disadvantaged. We ask whether community psychology has become negligent in the attention it brings to such a pernicious form of victim blaming and as such has shown insufficient critical engagement with systems that create social harm, and whether it is paying enough attention to the impact of a criminal justice system that is contributing to the creation of a more punitive, fractured and unjust society. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Key words: criminal justice; social justice; social harm; victim blaming PSYCHOLOGY AND LAWWhile there are three branches of psychology (almost) solely occupied with crime and the law-forensic psychology, legal psychology and policy-oriented psychological jurisprudence-psychologists working within these sub-disciplines rarely appear to adopt a critical stance towards the criminal justice system. Fox writes: '. . . [because] psychology and the law traditionally attribute problems to individuals rather than to societal faults, psychologists can become insiders within the legal system' (Fox, 1997, p. 221). The marriage between psychology and the criminal justice system is problematic in so far as it might extend the penetrative depth and breadth of their ideological underpinnings (inter alia, heightened individualism) into society and could magnify the effects of any social

Green reentry: criminal justice reform for a just energy transition

“…Our synergistic approach embraces a mechanism which fosters communitybuilding. Because criminal justice systems disproportionately punish socially and economically disenfranchised groups, community involvement in reentry is critical (Duckett and Schinkel 2008). In fact, the Maori tradition stresses that there is a collective, societal responsibility for wrongdoing which requires a collective, societal response to those wrongs (Bidois 2017).…”

Mental health and the criminal justice system: The role of interagency training to promote practitioner understanding of the diversion agenda

“…The approach of CJS in the UK is overwhelmingly on punishment and risk reduction, and it has been suggested that this disadvantages further those who are already socially excluded (Duckett and Schinkel, 2008).…”

Using a community psychology approach in your research

“…This charity's work analyses problems and intervenes in collaboration with excluded young people at the personal, relational and collective levels of well-being (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). This work is influenced by the troubling statistic that one in three young offenders had an unmet mental health need during the time of their offence (Youth Justice Board, 2005), with many of them already from a background of social and economic disadvantage (Duckett & Schinkel, 2008). Dr Charlie Alcock, a Clinical Psychologist, founded MAC-UK along with several young people involved or affected by gangs in the community.…”