Imagining a Greater Justice

Rezensionen / Stimmen

Imagining a Greater Justice is a thoughtful examination of the realities of the criminal justice system for all the stakeholders: victims, offenders, and communities. As such it is an essential read for anyone interested in an efficacious justice system. Unlike most other books it authentically gives voices to all these stakeholders through personal narratives. It demonstrates a moral regard and respect for the experience of all these figures, which is no doubt due to the rich experience of the author. As such, when it advocates for changes, these changes have a legitimacy that demands attention.

Mary Graw Leary, Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law (2019), "A Vision of Criminal Violence, Punishment, and Relational Justice," 17: 225-238.

This is a very important book and I am hopeful it finds a wide readership. Pillsbury has galvanized our imagination of the justice system we actually could have. He manages to get underneath all the issues we need to explore with sophistication, keen insight and great heart. He proposes a point of view both larger and more humble and our country will benefit greatly... if we listen to him.

Gregory Boyle, S.J. Founder of Homeboy Industries. Author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

This is an important piece of scholarship that offers meaningful insights and novel ways of thinking about issues of law, justice and the human condition. It contains numerous "aha!" passages that inspire head nodding in recognition of the fundamental truths laid bare. The author's style successfully captures legal nuances without being tedious or overly technical. The issues explored could not be more timely; indeed, with recent broad societal recognition of issues of sexual abuse and harassment the prescience of the author's observations border on startling. The discussion of racism-particularly the pervasiveness of unconsciously held attitudes about race-could significantly affect individual attitudes and legal and social policies.

James Acker, Distinguished Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany

This lucid and engaging book reconceptualizes criminal law in a fascinating way, drawing together a number of important strands of the discussion that are too often treated separately: criminal law, jurisprudence and philosophy, psychological questions, practical questions of institutional design and even spiritual questions. It also considers topics that are rarely treated in standard criminal law accounts: most particularly the role of the victim. One of the book's unusual strengths is that although grounded in legal jurisprudence, it is highly attuned to-and comfortable discussing-the emotional aspects of crime and punishment.

Susan A. Bandes, Centennial Professor of Law Emeritus, DePaul University College of Law

I have long admired Samuel Pillsbury's writing on crime and punishment for its intellectual rigor and commitment to make the law more just and humane. In Imagining a Greater Justice: Criminal Violence, Punishment, and Relational Justice he has produced his most important work. Drawing on law and social science and on his own work with crime victims and offenders, Pillsbury details the complex harms suffered by victims of violence and explores how offenders have come to commit violence. He creatively employs the perspectives of the different vocations he has followed-journalist, attorney, academic and Episcopal deacon-to develop a concept of relational justice for crimes of violence. Relational justice includes punishment, but sees justice as finally a community endeavor that should help victims heal and offenders be redeemed. Imagining A Greater Justice challenged some of my own views about crime and punishment; I am confident that it will challenge many others, as the best writing often does.

Jeffrie G. Murphy, Regents' Professor of Law, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, Arizona State University

The author is well-positioned to write this book, given his multiple professional commitments and expertise. He clearly brings both knowledge and compassion to the project. Addressing criminal justice through the lenses of punishment and healing for all is an important and innovative approach.

Monica J. Casper, Professor of Gender and Women's Studies; Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arizona This is a very important book and I am hopeful it finds a wide readership. Pillsbury has galvanized our imagination of the justice system we actually could have. He manages to get underneath all the issues we need to explore with sophistication, keen insight and great heart. He proposes a point of view both larger and more humble and our country will benefit greatly...if we listen to him.

Gregory Boyle, S.J. Founder of Homeboy Industries. Author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.

This is an important piece of scholarship that offers meaningful insights and novel ways of thinking about issues of law, justice, and the human condition. It contains numerous "aha!" passages that inspire head nodding in recognition of the fundamental truths laid bare. The author's style successfully captures legal nuances without being tedious or overly technical. The issues explored could not be more timely; indeed, with recent broad societal recognition of issues of sexual abuse and harassment the prescience of the author's observations border on startling. The discussion of racism-particularly the pervasiveness of unconsciously held attitudes about race -- could significantly affect individual attitudes and legal and social policies.

James Acker

Distinguished Teaching Professor

School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany

This lucid and engaging book reconceptualizes criminal law in a fascinating way, drawing together a number of important strands of the discussion that are too often treated separately: criminal law jurisprudence and philosophy, psychological questions, practical questions of institutional design, and even spiritual questions. It also considers topics that are rarely treated in standard criminal law accounts: most particularly the role of the victim. One of the book's unusual strengths is that although grounded in legal jurisprudence, it is highly attuned to-and comfortable discussing-the emotional aspects of crime and punishment.

Susan A. Bandes

Centennial Professor of Law Emeritus

DePaul University College of Law

I have long admired Samuel Pillsbury's writing on crime and punishment for its intellectual rigor and commitment to make the law more just and humane. In Imagining a Greater Justice-Criminal Violence, Punishment, and Relational Justice he has produced his most important work.

Drawing on law and social science and on his own work with crime victims and offenders, Pillsbury details the complex harms suffered by victims of violence and explores how offenders have come to commit violence. He creatively employs the perspectives of the different vocations he has followed -- journalist, attorney, academic, and Episcopal deacon -- to develop a concept of relational justice for crimes of violence. Relational justice includes punishment, but sees justice as finally a community endeavor that should help victims heal and offenders be redeemed. Imagining A Greater Justice challenged some of my own views about crime and punishment; I am confident that it will challenge many others, as the best writing often does.

Jeffrie G. Murphy

Regents' Professor of Law, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

Arizona State University

The author is well-positioned to write this book, given his multiple professional commitments and expertise. He clearly brings both knowledge and compassion to the project. Addressing criminal justice through the lenses of punishment and healing for all is an important and innovative approach.

Monica J Casper

Professor of Gender and Women's Studies; Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

University of Arizona