An uncompromising appraisal of the unique penal crisis affecting Britain and other Western-style democracies. Escalating resort to prisons, longer sentences, overcrowded and ineffective regimes, high rates of re-offending and eclectic penal policy all combine to fuel this crisis, whilst failing to reduce offending. In this new book, David J Cornwell, author of the acclaimed Criminal Punishment and Restorative Justice (ISBN 9781904380207), argues that the symptoms of this penal malaise are grounded in media sensationalism of crime and the need of politicians and their advisers to retain electoral credibility. Change is long overdue, but it requires a fresh, contemporary penology based on Restorative Justice. The book challenges the status quo, asks 'different questions' and places victims of crime at the centre of the criminal justice process. 'The reader is challenged to ask different questions about "true justice" in a book which provides true food for thought in well argued fashion': The Justices' Clerk 'This book offers a sustained argument for restorative justice, and should be heeded by politicians and practitioners alike. Whether either have the courage to take this way of thinking remains to be seen': Internet Law Book Reviews 'David Cornwell seeks to drill down into [the key] issues. This book identifies the organizational stresses and strains, the target-setting, the policy "blips" and all the problems of trying to bring radical change to our criminal justice system': Sir Charles Pollard QPM Director, Restorative Solutions, former Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police Service 'An important and timely contribution to the literature': Mark S Umbreit. 'One of the leading writers in the [restorative justice] campaign... intelligent and helpful... an urgent call to action particularly about the penal crisis which hangs permanently over this country's head': Justice of the Peace. David Cornwell is a criminologist and former prison governor with extensive experience of operational practice and consultancy within both state and privately managed sectors of correctional administration in a number of countries worldwide. His first book, Criminal Punishment and Restorative Justice, was published by Waterside Press in 2006.