Limit search to available items
Book Cover
E-book
Author Mitchell, Barry, 1952-

Title Exploring the mandatory life sentence for murder / Barry Mitchell and Julian V. Roberts
Published Oxford : Hart Publishing Limited, ©2012

Copies

Description 1 online resource (197 pages) : illustrations
Contents Introduction -- Defining murder and other forms of criminal homicide -- Origins of the mandatory life sentence for murder -- The mandatory life sentence for murder : the status quo -- 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 -- Appendix A: Comparative approaches to the definition and sentencing of murder -- Appendix B: Comparison of schedule 21 with practice direction -- Appendix C: Survey instrument
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
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references [pages [163]-170), and index
Notes English
Print version record
Subject Life imprisonment -- England
Life imprisonment -- Wales
Murder -- England.
Murder -- Wales
Mandatory sentences -- England
Mandatory sentences -- Wales
Sentences (Criminal procedure) -- England -- Public opinion
Sentences (Criminal procedure) -- Wales -- Public opinion
Criminal justice law.
LAW -- Criminal Law -- General.
Life imprisonment
Mandatory sentences
Murder
Sentences (Criminal procedure) -- Public opinion
England
Wales
Form Electronic book
Author Roberts, Julian V., author
LC no. 2012540203
ISBN 9781782250258
1782250255
1849462283
9781849462280
9781299403147
129940314X
9781782250265
1782250263
9781472561213
147256121X