The Classification of Crime: Towards Pluralism

Classification is a conceptual task in which important features of phenomena are organized in ways that are theoretically and practically valuable. In this paper we reflect on the articles comprising the special issue and identify five major issues that merit in depth analysis. First, there is the issue of the hybrid nature of the criminal justice system, which is concerned with both moral redress/just deserts and treatment/rehabilitation. Second, from a general viewpoint, there is the question of what should be the units of classification: entities, processes, functions, or contexts? A third issue revolves around the relationship between the epistemic tasks individuals are engaged in, and the way they determine what kind of entities and foci are salient in classification practices. A fourth issue concerns the type of investigation strategies that should be undertaken in building classification systems. Fifth, we discuss the downsides of constructing classification systems, and examine the way they can create epistemic blinders and stifle research. Finally, we conclude with some comments on the challenges facing the criminal justice field with respect to classification.