Fellow and Tutor in Law New College, Oxford

`Its arguments ... pursuade us that there are indeed fresh lines of inquiry to be pursued, and that these may prove well worth pursuing.' - Times Higher Education Supplement`This book makes a substantial contribution to the punishment debate, and has a claim on any legal theorist's attention.' - Criminal Law Review`This carefully constructed and persistently argued book is impressive and demanding of our attention.' - Times Literary Supplement`One is greatly indebted to Lacey for bringing so many issues so clearly and cogently together.' - Utilitas

• Chapter 1 Preliminaries; Chapter 2 The Traditional Justifications; Chapter 3 The Relevance of Responsibility; Chapter 4 The Question of Legal Obligation; Chapter 5 The Nature and Limits of the Criminal Law; Chapter 6 Political Obligation; Chapter 7 Punishment and the Liberal World; Chapter 8 Punishment and Community;