Examining the theory behind the headlines and engaging with current debates, this new edition provides thoughtful, impartial, and unbiased coverage of sentencing and punishment in the UK. Collectively, Susan Easton and Christine Piper are highly experienced teachers and researchers in this field, making them perfectly placed to deliver this lively account of a highly dynamic subject area. The book takes a thorough and systematic approach to sentencing and punishment, examining key topics from legal, philosophical, and practical perspectives. Offering in-depth and detailed coverage, while remaining clear and succinct, the authors deliver a balanced approach to the subject. Chapter summaries, discussion questions, and case studies help students to engage with the subject, apply their knowledge, and reflect upon debates. Fully reworked and restructured, this fifth edition has been updated to include developments such as the Sentencing Act 2020 and changes following the 2019 general election. This is the essential guide for anyone studying sentencing and punishment as part of a law or criminology course.

Susan Easton is Emeritus Professor of Law at Brunel Law School, a barrister, and founding editor of the International Journal of Discrimination and the Law. She has previously lectured at both the University of Sussex and the University of Sheffield, as well as tutoring in UK prisons. She has a particular research interest in prisoners' rights and the experience of imprisonment. Christine Piper is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Emeritus Professor of Law at Brunel Law School, and a member of the editorial board of Child and Family Law Quarterly. She has taught in secondary schools in both Nigeria and the UK and is interested in youth justice and sentencing and child and family law.