Policy Press

Justice, law and human rights

There is no uniform adoption and application of an international set of rules upholding what is ‘right’ to protect society’s most vulnerable.

Disparities exist within and between countries; killings and enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists persist despite international scrutiny and condemnation; unsecured rights for ethnic minorities, marginalised peoples, the young and the differently abled all illustrate that there is little room for complacency within the arenas of law and justice.

Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, our publishing in this area examines how the law is responding, or failing to respond, to these issues in a global context.

Bristol University Press and Policy Press are signed up to the UN SDG Publishers Compact. In Justice, law and human rights, we aim to address the following goals:

SDG Publishers compact logoSDG 10: Reduced inequalitiesSDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Showing 1-12 of 201 items.

Accountability and Review in the Counter-Terrorist State

Counter-terrorism is now a permanent part of the legislative apparatus of the state yet little is known about how it is reviewed. Building on exclusive interviews with political actors and practitioners, this book presents the first critical analysis of counter-terrorism review in the United Kingdom.

Bristol Uni Press

Abolitionist Voices

Edited by David Scott

Why have so many radical thinkers advocated for the abolition of prisons and punishment and why have their ideas been so difficult to communicate and garner widespread support? This book outlines the long and nuanced history of penal abolitionism and shows how these ideas have continued topicality.

Bristol Uni Press
  • ForthcomingHardbackGBP 90.99 Pre-order
  • Currently not availableEPUBGBP 27.99

Rethinking Peace Mediation

Challenges of Contemporary Peacemaking Practice

Written by international practitioners and scholars, this pioneering work offers insights into the peace mediation practice and explains how multifaceted assistance has become an indispensable part of it. With its policy focus and real-world examples, this is a go-to resource for researchers and advisers involved in peace processes.

Bristol Uni Press

Capacity, Participation and Values in Comparative Legal Perspective

With contributions from an international team of experts, this collection provides a much-needed international, comparative approach to mental capacity law.

Bristol Uni Press

Crime, Justice and COVID-19

This edited collection offers the first system-wide account of the impact of COVID-19 on crime and justice in England and Wales. Integrating first-hand narratives, it provides a critical discussion of the challenges faced by criminal justice agencies, together with policy and practice recommendations for future pandemic planning.

Policy Press

A Guide to Prisons and Penal Policy

Prisons Unlocked

This concise and accessible guide offers a critical overview of the prison system in England and Wales for students and practitioners. The book guides the reader through prison life as experienced by different stakeholder groups and is packed with learning features such as case studies and key concepts.

Policy Press

Diverse Voices in Public Law

Taking a unique and critical approach to the study of Public Law, this book explores the main topics in UK Public Law from a range of underexplored perspectives and amplifies the voices of scholars who are underrepresented in the field. It represents a much-needed complement to traditional textbooks in Public Law.

Bristol Uni Press

Experiences of Punishment, Abuse and Justice by Women and Families

Volume 2

Shedding light on the challenges and experiences of women and families within the criminal justice system, this book considers issues of intersectionality, violence and gender. Accessible to both academics and practitioners and with real-world policy recommendations, this collection demonstrates how positive change can be achieved.

Policy Press

The Criminalisation of Unaccompanied Migrant Minors

Voices from the Detention Processes in Greece

Greece is a key EU entry country for unaccompanied migrant minors seeking safety but such children are frequently criminalised through detention processes. Giving voice to migrant children throughout, Papadopoulos promotes child-friendly practices and the safeguarding of fundamental rights.

Bristol Uni Press

Social Harm and Neoliberalism

Political and Philosophical Issues

This book links criminological, political, moral and philosophical issues to offer a deeper understanding of the problem of social harm within the neoliberal environment. With case studies illustrating the direct and indirect harms that result from neoliberal policies or harmful inaction, it also demonstrates the harms caused by individualism.

Bristol Uni Press
  • ForthcomingHardbackGBP 85.99 Pre-order
  • Currently not availableEPUBGBP 27.99

Victim-Centred Peacemaking

Colombia’s Santos-FARC Peace Process

This book explores how survivors of political violence in Colombia have asserted themselves and challenged those in power. Drawing on interviews and various academic disciplines, the book proposes a victim-centered approach to transitional justice, valuable for both researchers and practitioners.

Bristol Uni Press
  • ForthcomingHardbackGBP 85.00 Pre-order
  • Currently not availableEPUBGBP 29.99

Polygamy, Policy and Postcolonialism in English Marriage Law

A Critical Feminist Analysis

Using a critical postcolonial feminist lens, this book provides a contextualised exploration of English legal responses to polygamy.

Bristol Uni Press