The Rise and Fall of the Rehabilitative Ideal, 1895-1970

The book examines nearly a century of penal policy in England and Wales, tracing the evolution of the rehabilitative ideal from the 1895 Gladstone Committee on Prisons to 1970. It highlights the shifts in attitudes toward treating and training criminals, illustrating how these approaches faced challenges and criticisms over time. Through this historical lens, the study offers insights into the complexities and transformations within the criminal justice system and the societal perceptions of rehabilitation.