Review of David Birks and Thomas Douglas, eds., Treatment for Crime: Philosophical Essays on Neurointerventions in Criminal Justice

Author ORCID Identifier

Jason Hanna:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8873-7490

Publication Title

Criminal Law and Philosophy

ISSN

18719791

E-ISSN

18719805

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Neurological interventions are sometimes used to prevent criminal behavior. For instance, in some jurisdictions, sex offenders can be compelled to undergo treatment designed to reduce sexual desire. As David Birks and Thomas Douglas observe in their introduction to this volume, “chemical castration” may be just the tip of the iceberg. As neuroscience advances, it could reveal many other ways to control criminality. For instance, pharmacological treatments may help combat violent behavior or drug abuse. Such “crime-preventing neurointerventions” (CPNs) have been controversial. On the one hand, proponents argue that CPNs could be both more effective and more humane than incarceration. On the other, critics argue that coercively imposed CPNs violate individual rights and that society has a poor track record of using medical interventions for social control. The nineteen original essays in this book comprehensively cover and effectively advance the moral debate over the appropriate use of CPNs.

Publication Date

1-1-2020

DOI

10.1007/s11572-020-09535-8

Keywords

Crime prevention, David Birks, Neurointerventions, Thomas Douglas

Department

Department of Philosophy

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