IN-CJ Podcast 043 – Rob Canton Punishment with a Purpose
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Joining John Scott in discussion for this episode of the IN-CJ Podcast is Professor Rob Canton, who is a founding member of IN-CJ, and will soon be retiring from his role as a leading academic in the field of Probation and Criminal Justice. As well as discussing Rob’s career and influences, John asks Rob about his latest book, Punishment, that has just been published. Rob’s book explores the concept of punishment, and asks what the meaning and significance of punishment is, not least to those subject to forms of punishment in the criminal justice system, and how punishment can be understood in the context of its social, political and emotional role in the criminal justice system.
This IN-CJ podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with Professor Rob Canton, reflecting on his career as a probation officer, academic, and international adviser, and exploring the enduring question: why do we punish?
Rob Canton’s latest book, Punishment, builds on his earlier work Why Punish?, combining philosophy and social science to examine the purposes, practices, and consequences of punishment. He argues that while punishment is an inevitable feature of justice systems, it is often overused and shaped by emotions such as anger, fear, and disgust. These emotions, he suggests, fuel punitive responses that can undermine community-based sanctions and more constructive forms of justice.
The discussion explored how philosophy and moral reflection remain essential to criminology, helping us to frame reform and identify directions grounded in human rights and social justice. Canton positioned his role not as a “thought leader” but as someone who shapes thought by prompting reflection, encouraging practitioners and policymakers to ask critical questions about the goals and limits of punishment.
Drawing on his experience with the Council of Europe and work in transitional democracies, Canton emphasised the importance of international collaboration and human rights frameworks. He also reflected on probation leadership, highlighting the value of empowerment, professional discretion, and the dangers of managerialism in undermining rehabilitative goals.
The conversation concluded that punishment should not be reduced to control or retribution. Instead, it must be understood as a deeply human practice, shaped by social and political forces, but always open to reform. For Canton, the purpose of punishment must be to uphold justice, dignity, and human rights, rather than simply to inflict suffering.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Podcast 043 – Rob Canton: Punishment with a Purpose.
