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The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing explores one of the most consequential and contested decision-points in the criminal justice system: whether and how to punish those convicted of crimes. During this period of political polarization, declining trust in institutions, and concerns about the treatment of immigrants in the United States and elsewhere, longstanding sentencing practices are being questioned and reforms are afoot. This volume examines how sentencing policies and practices have evolved, and crucially, where they might go next.
Drawing on the insights of leading scholars, the Handbook situates contemporary sentencing within a broader historical and social context. It traces the policies that gave rise to mass incarceration, the shifting philosophies behind punishment, and the consequences of punitive sentencing. From the enduring legacies of the war on drugs to the rise of "crimmigration" and the lessons from COVID-19's shock to the courts, the volume looks at the forces that influence sentencing decisions and the policy levers available to reformers.
This volume also confronts the longstanding inequalities associated with sentencing practices, including racial and citizenship-based disparities. It examines how decisions made at various stages of the criminal justice process - from legislation to charging to parole - contribute to disparities. Some chapters identify opportunities for reform, offering insights for a sentencing paradigm that balances crime control, due process, and equality.
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About the author
Ryan D. King is Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Sociology at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on criminal law and intergroup conflict, with an emphasis on hate crimes and sentencing. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, and other agencies and foundations.
Michael T. Light is Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds degrees in Sociology and Criminology from Penn State University. His research focuses on crime, punishment, and immigration. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, the Russell Sage Foundation, and other agencies.
