The Culture of Control

The Culture of Control charts the dramatic changes in crime control and criminal justice that have occurred in Britain and America over the last 25 years. It then explains these transformations by showing how the social organization of late modern society has prompted a series of political and cultural adaptations that alter how governments and citizens think and act in relation to crime. The book presents an original and in-depthanalysis of contemporary crime control, revealing its underlying logics and rationalities, and identifying the social relations and cultural sensibilities that have produced this new culture of control.In developing a "history of the present" in the field of crime control, David Garland presents an intertwined history of the welfare state and the criminal justice state, a theory of social and penal change, and an account of how social order is constructed in late modern societies. Drawing on extensive research in the UK and the USA, he shows in detail how the social, economic and cultural forces of the late 20th century have reshaped criminological thought, publicpolicy, and the cultural meaning of crime and criminals.The Culture of Control explains how our responses to crime and our sense of criminal justice came to be so dramaticallyreconfigured at the end of the 20th century. The shifting policies of crime and punishment, welfare and security - and the changing class, race and gender relations that underpin them - are viewed as aspects of the problem of governing late modern society and creating social order in a rapidly changing social world. Its theoretical scope, empirical range and interpretative insight make this book an indispensable guide to one of the central issues of our time.

“'...written with considerable grace and style as well as providing acritical overview of an extensive and wide ranging literature. ...The Cultureof Control will find an immediate place that is high on many reading lists onboth sides of the Atlantic ... It will certainly prompt much scholarly debate,and its greatest legacy is likely to be a host of studies which seek tochallenge aspects of this abstract and compelling canvas of our times.'Andrew Rutherford, Legal Studies”

Where this book excels is in its meticulous and measured analysis of the complex changes which have occurred in the criminal justice systems of the UK and the USA in the recent period and, as such, it is essential reading.'Youth Justice Vol. 1 No. 3... an important new book ... The material which Garland has produced makes compelling reading for anyone interested in where Western society is heading in this new century in terms of its politics of law and order.'NLJ Book Review Supplement, 8 Feb 2002an important new book The material which Garland has produced makes compelling reading for anyone interested in where Western society is heading in this new century in terms of its politics of law and order.'Gavin McFarlane, New Law Journal, 8 Feb 2002This is a very good book and a very important one as well. ... The Culture of Control has many rewards for the careful reader. ... a highly original analysis of the culture of high-crime societies ... wonderfully insightful ... This new book will stand as one of the basic documents in our effort to understand social change as a force in determining modern responses to crime and criminality.'Franklin E. Zimring, Criminal Justice Vol. 1(4)This is a fascinating and disturbing story that Garland tells brilliantly. He is wonderfully readable; he makes the complex simple, but not simplistic. ... This book is eloquent, impressive in its range, penetrating in its insights and convincing in its analysis ... a compelling argument for a change of direction.'John Adams, Times Higher Education Supplement, 7 Sept 2001...written with considerable grace and style as well as providing a critical overview of an extensive and wide ranging literature. ...The Culture of Control will find an immediate place that is high on many reading lists on both sides of the Atlantic ... It will certainly prompt much scholarly debate, and its greatest legacy is likely to be a host of studies which seek to challenge aspects of this abstract and compelling canvas of our times.'Andrew Rutherford, Legal StudiesGarland's book is more than just an important contribution to criminology. It is also a major work of social analysis, which deserves to be read more widely...his account of changes in crime control also provides one of the clearest and most convincing characterizations of contemporary society in general.'Robert Reiner, The Times Literary Supplement Today's turbulent criminal justice debate is significantly advanced by this dense but surprisingly readable book. ... a stimulating analysis of what is actually happening and why. ... [Garland's] carefully documented untangling of the complex strands of current criminal justice policy is impressive and illuminating.'Magistrate, Summer 2001Today's turbulent criminal justice debate is significantly advanced by this dense but surprisingly readable book. In it David Garland sets himself the task of 'understanding the present', and for practitioners struggling with the relentless flood of legislation, policy initiatives and radical restructuring, he offers a stimulating analysis of what is actually happening and why ... his carefully documented untangling of the complec strands of the currentcriminal justice policy is impressive and illuminating.'Sheila Moore J. P., Contemporary SocietyThis is a marvellous book. In a compact, clearly-written, analysis Garland seeks to explain the rapid retrenchment of rehabilitative criminal justice in Britain and the United States over the last thirty years. In contrast to standard treatments that blame the media, conservative politics, or academic research, Garland finds that the punitive mood in criminology and crime control is deeply rooted in the new social structures of late modernity. This is aprovocative thesis that will inspire research and be of broad interest to students of politics and the welfare state, as well as criminologists.'Bruce Western, Princeton UniversityThe Culture of Control is the most important book on the sociology of punishment and social control since Foucault's Discipline and Punish. David Garland starts with levels of common knowledge about politics and economy and weaves them with his own extraordinarily sophisticated reading of crime discourses and social theory into a perspective on the conditions of contemporary life that is as disturbing as it is compelling.'Jonathan Simon, Professor of Law, Miami Law SchoolThis is a brilliant, important book. Garland writes so clearly that any intelligent reader can learn from him. What he has to teach is unsettling: the deeply reactionary impulse contained in what he calls "late modernity".'Richard Sennett, Professor of Social and Cultural Theory, London School of Economics`A remarkable and visionary exegesis by one of the most insightful social theorists of our time. Full of profound insights into how we live today, The Culture of Control takes us to new levels of sophistication in our understanding of the connection between today's crime control strategies and late modern social organization.'Mitchell Duneier, author of SIDEWALK and SLIM'S TABLE

David Garland is Professor of Law at New York University

The Culture of Control charts the dramatic changes in crime control and criminal justice that have occurred in Britain and America over the last 25 years. It then explains these transformations by showing how the social organization of late modern society has prompted a series of political and cultural adaptations that alter how governments and citizens think and act in relation to crime. The book presents an original and in-depth analysis of contemporary crime control, revealing its underlying logics and rationalities, and identifying the social relations and cultural sensibilities that have produced this new culture of control. In developing a "history of the present" in the field of crime control, David Garland presents an intertwined history of the welfare state and the criminal justice state, a theory of social and penal change, and an account of how social order is constructed in late modern societies. Drawing on extensive research in the UK and the USA, he shows in detail how the social, economic and cultural forces of the late 20th century have reshaped criminological thought, public policy, and the cultural meaning of crime and criminals.The Culture of Control explains how our responses to crime and our sense of criminal justice came to be so dramatically reconfigured at the end of the 20th century. The shifting policies of crime and punishment, welfare and security - and the changing class, race and gender relations that underpin them - are viewed as aspects of the problem of governing late modern society and creating social order in a rapidly changing social world. Its theoretical scope, empirical range and interpretative insight make this book an indispensable guide to one of the central issues of our time.

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