Sentencing, Public Opinion, and Criminal Justice

Abstract This volume celebrates the achievements of Julian V Roberts KC (Hon), Emeritus Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford, over forty years of scholarship. To mark his extraordinary influence on sentencing and criminal justice on the global stage, the contributors—a mix of international scholars and members of the judiciary—present a collection of themed essays in his honour. Roberts is a leading academic authority on sentencing theory, policy, and practice in common law jurisdictions and his work has made a landmark contribution to the analysis and development of sentencing worldwide. His work is innovative and inspired, known for identifying core challenges and defining research needs before they become central to criminal justice agendas. A distinguished group of authors engage in an interdisciplinary appreciation of Roberts’ work in three distinct domains: fundamentals of sentencing and penal theory, sentencing policy and penal practice, and public opinion and criminal justice. Drawn from seven jurisdictions, the authors offer fresh insight into Roberts’ past accomplishments as well as the future of the field that he continues to shape. Together, they demonstrate a collective commitment to advancing Roberts’ lifelong project of normative, comparative, and empirical engagement with questions of crime and justice.