“Peace-Making Criminology is a discourse of the suffering of crime and aims to eliminate crime.”
Peace-Making Criminology – Detailed Discussion
1. Introduction
Peace-making criminology is a modern, human-centred theory that looks at crime not only as a legal wrong but as a form of human suffering.
It argues that people commit crimes because they themselves are trapped in pain, inequality, and injustice.
Therefore, if we want to eliminate crime, we must first eliminate the conditions of suffering in society.
2. Meaning
The term “Peace-Making Criminology” was introduced by Richard Quinney and Harold Pepinsky in the late 1980s.
According to them, crime and punishment are both products of violence — society uses violence to control violence, which only continues the cycle of pain.
Hence, peace-making criminology calls for compassion, understanding, and non-violence to heal both offenders and victims.
In simple words:
“Crime is born out of suffering; justice should heal that suffering, not create more of it.”
3. Nature of Peace-Making Criminology
It is both a philosophy and a practice of justice based on:
- Love and forgiveness, instead of hatred and revenge.
- Understanding and healing, instead of punishment.
- Social and spiritual transformation, instead of fear and control.
Peace-making criminology sees crime as a symptom, not the disease itself. The real disease is social injustice, inequality, poverty, and alienation.
4. Scholars and Their Views
- Richard Quinney (1991) – Said that the roots of crime lie in suffering and inequality. To end crime, we must create a peaceful and just society.
- Harold Pepinsky (1995) – Called the criminal justice system itself “a system of violence.” He said we need a compassionate criminology that builds peace within ourselves and with others.
- Nils Christie – Emphasized that conflicts belong to the people; they should be resolved through dialogue and reconciliation, not punishment.
- John Braithwaite – Supported restorative justice and reintegrative shaming — shaming the act, not the person, to encourage reform.
5. Principles of Peace-Making Criminology
| Principle | Explanation (Simple Language) |
|---|---|
| Non-Violence (Ahimsa) | Violence cannot produce peace; justice must be peaceful in spirit. |
| Compassion and Forgiveness | Offenders are also human beings who can change if treated with dignity. |
| Restorative Justice | Crime breaks relationships — justice must repair them through dialogue. |
| Social Justice | To stop crime, remove inequality, poverty, and discrimination. |
| Spiritual Growth | True peace comes when people and society change their hearts. |
6. “Discourse of Suffering” – Explained
The phrase “discourse of suffering” means that peace-making criminology studies crime from the point of view of pain, emotion, and humanity.
It asks questions like:
- Why do people suffer before they commit crime?
- How does punishment increase their suffering?
- How can society heal both victims and offenders?
Thus, it becomes a conversation (discourse) about how suffering causes crime and how understanding and empathy can end that cycle.
7. Aim – Elimination of Crime through Peace
Peace-making criminology does not believe in police control or harsh punishment.
Instead, it seeks to eliminate crime by creating a peaceful and just society, where:
- Basic needs are met,
- Inequality is reduced, and
- People are treated with love and respect.
It promotes restorative justice methods like mediation, victim–offender dialogue, and community conferencing.
8. Criticism
- Too idealistic: Critics say not all offenders can be reformed by love.
- Impractical: Difficult to apply in large societies or serious crimes.
- Risky: May ignore victims’ demands for safety and justice.
Yet, even critics agree it gives a moral vision that reminds the world justice should be humane.
9. Indian Context
Peace-making ideas connect closely with Gandhian philosophy:
- Ahimsa (Non-violence)
- Truth (Satya)
- Sarvodaya (Welfare of All)
Indian laws like the Juvenile Justice Act (2015) and Probation of Offenders Act (1958) reflect this approach — they focus on rehabilitation, not punishment.
10. Conclusion
Peace-making criminology is truly a “discourse of the suffering of crime.”
It teaches that to eliminate crime, we must heal human pain and remove social injustice.
By using compassion, forgiveness, and love, it aims to create a peaceful, fair, and caring society.
👉 “Where there is peace, there is no crime; where there is love, there is justice.”
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