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Criminal Justice and Distributive Justice: Has the Wall of Separation Been Reduced to Rubble?

NCJ Number
116897
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1988) Pages: 589-614
Author(s)
D J Spader
Date Published
1988
Length
26 pages
Annotation
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.
Abstract
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 10 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 10 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 bulldozers are already razing other parts. (Publisher abstract)