Critical reflections on the sociology of punishment stemming from the work of Tom Daems

This article considers some conceptual, epistemological and methodological difficulties that persist in the sociology of punishment and can be visualised through a critical reading of the important work of Tom Daems, Making Sense of Penal Change (2008). The author makes specific reference to: (i) the concept of punishment and the utilization of a causes/effects schema; (ii) the absence of a clear distinction between explanation and prediction; (iii) the issue of long/short term observations; and (iv) the utilization of the distinction between one-dimensional and multidimensional explanations. In conclusion, the author asks himself if a "pluralist theoretical position" is epistemologically possible. Adapted from the source document.