Inclusionary control? Theorizing the effects of penal voluntary organizations’ work

Tomczak, Philippa; Thompson, David

Abstract

Recent penal policy developments in many jurisdictions suggest an increasing role for voluntary organizations. Voluntary organizations have long worked alongside penal institutions, but the multifaceted ways their programmes affect (ex-)offenders remain insufficiently understood. This article addresses the implications of voluntary organizations’ work with (ex-)offenders, using original empirical data. It adds nuance to netwidening theory, reframing the effects of voluntary organizations’ work as inclusionary and exclusionary. Exclusionary effects sometimes have inclusionary aspects, and inclusionary effects are constrained by a controlling carceral net. We propose the novel concept of inclusionary control. This is not an alibi for punishment but enables rich analysis of the effects of voluntary organizations’ work, and raises possibilities for change in penal practice.

Citation

Tomczak, P., & Thompson, D. (2019). Inclusionary control? Theorizing the effects of penal voluntary organizations’ work. Theoretical Criminology, 23(1), 4-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480617733724

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 24, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Oct 10, 2017
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Oct 31, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Journal: Theoretical Criminology
• Print ISSN: 1362-4806
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7439
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 4-24
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480617733724
• Keywords: netwidening, punishment, social exclusion, social inclusion, voluntary sector
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1214729
• Publisher URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1362480617733724