From Social Justice to Criminal Justice Poverty and the Administration of Criminal Law

From Social Justice to Criminal Justice: Poverty and the Administration of Criminal Law by William C. Heffernan, published by Oxford University Press in 2000, is a thought-provoking collection of original essays that delves into the intersection of poverty and the criminal justice system. Spanning 294 pages, this edition presents a variety of ideological perspectives on the disproportionate contact that economically deprived individuals have with the criminal court system.

Readers will find a comprehensive exploration of ethical dilemmas and troubling questions surrounding issues such as heightened vulnerability and indigent representation. The essays, contributed by notable legal and political philosophers, engage with complex topics including social background defenses and the implications of poverty within the framework of criminal law. This work serves as a critical examination of the relationship between social justice and legal administration, making it a significant contribution to discussions in criminology and social science.