Criminal justice and distributive justice: Has the wall of separation been reduced to rubble?

ISSN： 0741-8825

Source： Justice Quarterly, Vol.5, Iss.4, 1988-12, pp. : 589-614

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Abstract

Traditionally, high walls have existed to separate different areas of the field of justice. Theorists who constructed the wall between criminal justice and distributive justice were never able to complete it and deliberately created many gates. Recently multidisciplinary theorists have leveled parts of the wall and have let other parts fall into disrepair. This article suggests that criminal justice theorists and practitioners could benefit by more commerce with their neighbors in distributive justice. Specifically, I suggest that the ten canons of distributive justice, which have induced rich theoretical and empirical research in political science, psychology, economics, law, and sociology, should be included in the first exchange with our distributive justice neighbors. The purpose of this article is to describe each of the ten canons to criminal justice personnel and to suggest one or two examples of how each canon has already penetrated the wall. I conclude that parts of the wall may be secure but that multidisciplinary bull-dozers are already razing other parts.