Dangerous Politics: Risk, political vulnerability and penal policy

The IPP sentence, in its form and effects, stands as one of the most striking examples of the rise of preventive justice in Western democracies. A life sentence in all but name, it has contributed to an astonishing growth in the indeterminate prison population: England and Wales now has more indeterminate sentenced prisoners than Germany, France and Italy combined. This book engages with this crucial development in penal policy, with in-depth analysis that is of international relevance.Dangerous Politics draws on over 60 in-depth interviews with key policymakers to tease out the beliefs, traditions and political processes that propelled the creation, contestation and ultimate demise of the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence. Dangerous Politics makes an original contribution to our understanding of the genesis and demise of the IPP sentence, and to our broader understanding of the nature of penality in early 21st century Britain. It brings together relevant literature in law, criminology and politics to provide insights into the nature of British penal politics, the role of the judiciary and pressure groups, and the interrelation between risk, the ‘public voice’ and penal politics