Punishing Criminals: Concerning a Very Old and Painful Question

In this reasoned book, the author, himself both a psychoanalyst and social critic, grapples with some difficult questions about crime and punishment and proffers some provocative answers that should be of interest in a time of escalating violence and soaring crime rates. Some of the issues examined are deterrence, retribution, justice, the causes of crime, punishment and the pros and cons of the death penalty. Ultimately, the author concludes that punishment is necessary, not as an act of revenge for the crime, but as an act of support and confirmation to the lawabiding members of society. Originally published in 1975, this edition is updated with a new postscript by the author.