| At present, there is a growing victim constituency that includes not just actual victims but those who can identify with victims by seeing themselves as being similarly harmed. Therefore, if it is true that a "norm of reciprocity" is fundamental to human interaction (Gouldner, 1960), the greater the victim constituency, the greater the opposition to a non-punitive reaction (Toby, 1962). The past two decades have also witnessed a growing offender constituency. Exponential growth in correctional populations and the war on drugs/crime has spawned a culture of control that subjects even the general population to the disciplinary gaze of the state, not to mention the private sector. Therefore, as more people begin to identify with offenders because they are directly affected by their punishment or because they can envisage the same being done to therngiven the prevailing culture of control- then the urge to be punitive should decline. Most speculate that more punitive times lie ahead because of the emotionalism, irrationalism, and populism that is driving penal policy. However, what this forecast fails to take into account is the potential counter effects (i.e., backlash) of a growing offender constituency. An expanding share of the population now finds themselves members of both constituencies, but it is not clear which similarity of experience" will prevail upon policy. In short, is a withering of punitiveness possible, given the scope of punitive control in society? This paper will examine the theoretical and empirical dimensions associated with this argument. |
Updated 05/20/2006