What Can Political Science Contribute to the Study of Criminal Justice in Canada
The article argues that Canadian political scientists have paid more attention to criminal justice than is commonly believed but that there is potential for a much greater contribution. The existing political science literature on criminal justice suggests that three strengths could be built upon by future research. First, political scientists are well positioned to study how the policy process influences the formation of criminal justice policy. Second, political scientists can bring their disciplinary training to bear on questions involving the limits of public authority and the rights of citizens vis-a-vis the state in the context of criminal justice. Finally, the political science literature contains relatively unique methodological, theoretical, and normative perspectives on criminal justice when compared to the literature produced by scholars in other disciplines. The article concludes by outlining some potential impediments to political scientists' paying more heed to criminal justice and also some...