Lacey criticizes the fundamental liberal philosophical assumptions underlying much of the modern tradition of theorising about punishment and argues instead for its justifying social functions.

Fellow and Tutor in Law New College, Oxford

Chapter 1 Preliminaries; Chapter 2 The Traditional Justifications; Chapter 3 The Relevance of Responsibility; Chapter 4 The Question of Legal Obligation; Chapter 5 The Nature and Limits of the Criminal Law; Chapter 6 Political Obligation; Chapter 7 Punishment and the Liberal World; Chapter 8 Punishment and Community;