IN-CJ Podcast 046 – Perspectives on Punishment Forum Discussion
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Following our recent discussion on the purpose of punishment in criminal justice, we held an open discussion forum to enable IN-CJ members and subscribers to take part in this important conversation. The discussion considered how and to what extent it is possible to achieve an effective balance between the needs of institutions and practices of punishment, and whether other countries have different expectations about the role and purpose of punishment?
Our discussions in breakout groups were focused on four themes: the role of emotion, the political situation, the media context and the evidence that shows what works.
This podcast is an edited version of our live session, with contributions from people who are concerned to better understand how we can be more effective and responsive when dealing with crime and its causes. While public policy in relation to crime is often presented as being principled and rational, perhaps there are other influences at work which need to be considered if we are to improve our international penal systems?
This IN-CJ podcast captured an international forum on the purpose and practice of punishment, bringing together contributors from different jurisdictions to reflect on how punishment is shaped by emotion, politics, media, and evidence.
The forum was structured around four breakout themes. The first focused on the role of emotion in punishment. Participants highlighted how anger, fear, and changing social norms influence what is defined as criminal, and how these emotions feed into legislation and sentencing. Punishment, it was argued, often reflects the emotional climate of society as much as legal principle.
The second theme explored politics and culture. Politicians often use punishment as a tool to demonstrate toughness on crime, with punitive rhetoric employed to win votes. Yet, participants noted, victims themselves often prioritise prevention and repair over severity, exposing a disconnect between political messaging and lived experience.
Media and social media formed the third theme. Contributors observed that crime reporting is frequently sensationalised, creating fear and fuelling demands for harsher sanctions. Social media, lacking editorial oversight, was seen to amplify hostility and punitive attitudes, often detached from nuance or evidence.
Finally, the forum examined the role of evidence. Questions arose about whether punishment is genuinely evidence-based or driven more by tradition and political expediency. Participants stressed the need to clarify what punishment aims to achieve—deterrence, rehabilitation, or peace-building—and to challenge assumptions that harsher sentences necessarily deliver justice.
Across these discussions, the forum highlighted how punishment is deeply politicised and interwoven with wider inequalities such as poverty, discrimination, and corruption. The conclusion was clear: punishment cannot be understood in isolation but must be seen as part of broader cultural, emotional, and structural contexts.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Podcast 046 – Perspectives on Punishment Forum Discussion.
