Peace-Making Criminology – Full Detailed Analysis (LLB Semester Exam Perspective)
1. Introduction
Peace-making criminology is a modern, human-centered approach to understanding crime and justice.
It challenges the traditional idea that “crime can be controlled only through punishment or fear.”
Instead, it says that real justice comes from peace, empathy, forgiveness, and social healing.
The theory believes that “you cannot stop violence by using more violence.”
So, instead of punishing criminals harshly, society should aim to understand their suffering and remove the social causes of crime, such as inequality, poverty, and injustice.
2. Historical Background and Origin
This theory developed during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the United States.
It emerged as part of the critical criminology movement, which criticized the legal system for being too harsh and unfair to the poor and marginalized.
Main founders of this school are:
- Richard Quinney
- Harold Pepinsky
They introduced this concept through writings such as:
- Quinney’s “The Way of Peace: On Crime, Suffering and Service” (1991)
- Pepinsky and Quinney’s edited work “Criminology as Peacemaking” (1991)
Both scholars were deeply influenced by spiritual, ethical, and Gandhian ideas of non-violence and compassion.
3. Meaning of Peace-Making Criminology
Peace-making criminology views crime as a symptom of human suffering.
When people experience pain, oppression, or social injustice, they may act out in criminal ways.
Thus, the goal of justice should be to heal the suffering, not to create more pain through punishment.
It promotes restorative justice – a system that focuses on repairing harm done to victims, offenders, and communities through dialogue, forgiveness, and understanding.
In simple terms:
“Crime hurts; justice should heal.”
4. Major Scholars and Their Views
(a) Richard Quinney
- Believed that both crime and punishment are forms of social violence.
- Said that peace cannot be achieved by violence (for example, prisons or death penalty).
- Suggested that society must move toward spiritual transformation — a change in heart and social relationships.
- Emphasized love, compassion, and forgiveness as tools for true justice.
(b) Harold Pepinsky
- Called the criminal justice system itself a “violence-producing system.”
- Believed that law enforcement, courts, and prisons often create more hostility than harmony.
- Proposed the idea of “restorative dialogue”, where offenders, victims, and society work together to heal the harm.
- Supported community-based conflict resolution instead of state punishment.
(c) Nils Christie (Norwegian Criminologist)
- Though not a founder, he strongly supported peace-making ideas.
- His concept of “Conflicts as Property” (1977) said that the criminal justice system steals conflicts from people — instead, people should resolve conflicts peacefully within their communities.
(d) John Braithwaite
- Developed Reintegrative Shaming Theory — suggesting that shame should be used to reform, not humiliate.
- Supported restorative justice as a peace-oriented method to reduce re-offending.
5. Core Principles of Peace-Making Criminology
| Principle | Explanation (Easy Language) |
|---|---|
| Non-Violence (Ahimsa) | Peace cannot be achieved through punishment or fear; it must come through non-violent solutions. |
| Compassion and Love | Offenders should be treated as humans capable of change, not as enemies. |
| Restorative Justice | Focus on repairing harm, restoring relationships, and community healing. |
| Forgiveness and Healing | Encourages reconciliation between victims and offenders to remove hate. |
| Social Justice | To reduce crime, remove root causes like poverty, inequality, and marginalization. |
| Holistic Understanding | See crime not only as legal wrongdoing but as emotional and spiritual suffering. |
6. Different Approaches within Peace-Making Criminology
-
Spiritual Approach
- Inspired by religious and philosophical teachings (like Buddhism, Christianity, and Gandhian philosophy).
- Focuses on love, compassion, and personal transformation.
-
Feminist Approach
- Emphasizes empathy, care, and relationships, often linked with maternal justice.
- Criticizes the patriarchal system that uses domination and control.
-
Critical Social Approach
- Focuses on structural causes of crime such as capitalism, inequality, and oppression.
- Believes peace is possible only when there is economic and social equality.
-
Restorative Justice Approach
- Promotes face-to-face meetings between victim and offender to build understanding.
- Example: New Zealand’s “Family Group Conferencing” model.
7. Critiques of Peace-Making Criminology
| Critique | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Too Idealistic | Critics say love and forgiveness cannot stop serious crimes like murder or terrorism. |
| Impractical in Large Societies | Works better in small communities, but not in complex modern systems. |
| Ignores Power Relations | Some scholars say it does not fully address political and economic inequality. |
| Risk of Ignoring Victim Needs | Focusing on offender reform may make victims feel neglected. |
| Not Suitable for Repeat Offenders | Dangerous or habitual criminals may misuse compassion-based justice. |
Scholars like Jock Young and Left Realists argue that peace-making criminology is utopian, meaning it sounds good in theory but is hard to apply in real criminal justice systems.
8. Connection with Gandhian Philosophy
Peace-making criminology is deeply related to Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of:
- Ahimsa (non-violence)
- Satya (truth)
- Sarvodaya (welfare of all)
Gandhi believed that society can reform even wrongdoers through understanding and love, not hatred and punishment — exactly what peace-making criminology teaches.
9. Example / Application
- Restorative Justice in New Zealand and Norway – Offenders meet victims to apologize and repair harm.
- Community policing in India and South Africa – Focus on trust and understanding rather than force.
- Juvenile Justice Boards in India – Use rehabilitation and counseling rather than punishment.
10. Conclusion
Peace-making criminology offers a humane and transformative vision of justice.
It moves away from revenge and toward restoration, compassion, and social healing.
Although it faces criticism for being too idealistic, its moral and ethical strength lies in reminding society that:
“Justice without peace is incomplete; and peace without justice is impossible.”
Thus, for LLB students, peace-making criminology is not just a theory — it’s a call to build a justice system based on humanity, equality, and reconciliation.
Short Summary (Quick Revision Table)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Founders | Richard Quinney, Harold Pepinsky |
| Core Idea | Non-violence, forgiveness, healing, and social justice |
| Main Goal | To reduce crime through peace, not punishment |
| Approaches | Spiritual, Feminist, Social, Restorative |
| Critics | Too idealistic, impractical for serious crimes |
| Indian Link | Based on Gandhian principles of Ahimsa and forgiveness |
🔹 Additional Points to Strengthen Your Answer
1. Broader Context of Peace-Making Criminology
Peace-making criminology developed as part of the “critical criminology” and “new criminology” wave that arose in the late 20th century.
It was a reaction against:
- Harsh penal policies
- Overcrowded prisons
- Failure of deterrence
- Injustice toward marginalized communities
Hence, it’s often called a “humanistic branch of critical criminology.”
2. Philosophical Foundation
This theory is influenced by:
- Eastern philosophies: Buddhism (compassion), Jainism (Ahimsa), and Hinduism (Dharma and forgiveness).
- Western thinkers: Leo Tolstoy (Christian pacifism), Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights through peace), and Mahatma Gandhi (non-violence).
👉 It connects law and morality, not just law and punishment.
3. Key Concepts Introduced by Scholars
| Scholar | Concept / Contribution |
|---|---|
| Richard Quinney | Crime and punishment are both forms of violence; justice must aim for spiritual peace. |
| Harold Pepinsky | Coined the term “Peacemaking Criminology”; called for a “compassionate criminology.” |
| Nils Christie | Conflicts should belong to the people — justice must restore human relationships. |
| John Braithwaite | Introduced Reintegrative Shaming — shaming the act, not the person. |
| Bianchi and Zehr | Advocated Restorative Justice as a peace-based response. |
4. Relation with Restorative Justice (Modern Application)
Peace-making criminology forms the philosophical base of Restorative Justice.
Restorative justice uses practical steps like:
- Victim-offender mediation
- Family group conferencing
- Community sentencing circles
📌 These methods are now used in countries like Canada, New Zealand, and even in Indian Juvenile Boards (under Juvenile Justice Act, 2015).
5. Contribution to Criminological Thought
- Shift from Control → Care
- Shift from Punishment → Healing
- Shift from Legalism → Humanism
It re-defines crime as a breakdown of relationships, not simply a violation of law.
6. Contemporary Relevance
In the modern world of terrorism, cybercrime, and mass incarceration, peace-making criminology promotes:
- Rehabilitation instead of retribution
- Dialogue instead of dominance
- Community reconciliation instead of exclusion
For example, South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (post-apartheid) is one of the strongest real-world examples of peace-making in action.
7. Indian Legal Relevance
- The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 and Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 reflect peace-making principles.
- Indian courts have often preferred reformative justice over retributive justice (for example, in Mohd. Giasuddin vs State of Andhra Pradesh, AIR 1977 SC 1926, Justice Krishna Iyer emphasized reform, not revenge).
- Gandhian ideas of forgiveness, truth, and moral upliftment align perfectly with this criminology.
8. Advanced Critiques (For Higher Marks)
- Left Realist Critique: It ignores the immediate need for protection of victims.
- Feminist Critique: Sometimes promotes forgiveness even in domestic violence cases where safety should come first.
- Postmodern View: Peace-making sounds moral, but lacks a concrete system for justice administration.
- Legal Realist View: Idealism without policy structure may weaken rule of law.
Still, despite these, peace-making criminology is valued for bringing morality, emotion, and humanity back into the study of law and crime.
9. Quotation Support (For Answer Enrichment)
- Quinney (1991): “Suffering and crime are rooted in the same violence. To end one, we must end the other.”
- Pepinsky (1995): “Peacemaking criminology is about making peace within ourselves, with others, and with the earth.”
- Gandhi: “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”
These quotes add depth and personality to your answer.
10. Final Enhanced Conclusion
Peace-making criminology reminds the world that justice is not only about punishment — it’s about restoring harmony.
By bringing together law, morality, and compassion, it gives a holistic vision of how societies can reduce crime and create peace.
While its practical use may be limited, its moral force is undeniable:
“True justice heals the wound; it doesn’t deepen it.”
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