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Human-Animal Interactions and Issues in Criminal Justice: Toward a Humane Criminology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The year 2020 has brought global threats to public health not experienced in over a century, continued tragedy and outcries for racial justice, and the intensification of the climate crisis with unprecedented environmental catastrophes. The vulnerability and interconnection of all life is becoming increasingly apparent to a greater number of people. These events render the importance of addressing these interconnections, including past and present relations between humans and animals in all social realms, more pressing than ever. 

The advancement of science in understanding the sentience of other animals and the deep bonds that humans share with them has exploded in recent decades. However, ethical blind spots continue to permeate the dominant culture and obscure the recognition that the plight of countless non-human species is a social justice issue.  Furthermore, the routine exploitation, victimization, and commodification of animals is interconnected and intertwined with other social justice issues that also impact humans, animals, and the environment. These ethical blinds spots are demonstrated in and impact the fields of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Relevant public policy, value systems, attitudes, beliefs and behavior that shape criminal justice interventions and legislation and impact animals is an under explored area of criminological research. This Special Issue on “Human–Animal Interactions and Issues in Criminal Justice: Toward a Humane Criminology” seeks broad contributions of original research of application and theory of human–animal interactions in Criminal Justice. This includes issues that impact companion, wild, and farmed animals and topics that include but are not limited to the following:

  • The ethical inclusion of animals in the treatment and support of people involved in the criminal justice system, particularly those that also benefit animal participants (e.g., working with rescued animals in law enforcement community relations, treating trauma victims, prison animal programs, courtroom support animals, legal advocates for animal victims of abuse);
  • An examination of social, psychological, political, and economic issues related to legislation and enforcement of harms and crimes that impact both humans and animals (e.g., LINK violence, trafficking networks, consumption demands and the commodification of animals for their meat, fur, skin, body parts, service, entertainment value);
  • Theoretical or conceptual frameworks that explore human–animal interactions and the human–animal bond in criminal justice, criminology, legislation, and related public policy;
  • Research that addresses the connections of both marginalized human and animal voices and victims.

Dr. Kimberly Spanjol
Dr. Cathryn Lavery
Dr. Heath Grant
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animals and criminal justice
  • animals and public policy
  • human–animal bond
  • human–animal interactions
  • human–animal protection
  • humane criminology
  • LINK violence
  • One Health model
  • species justice
  • wildlife criminology

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Soc. Sci. - ISSN 2076-0760
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