: High-cost practices like mass incarceration began to be re-evaluated through the lens of economic analysis, specifically revisiting Gary Becker's 1968 theories on the costs and benefits of crime and punishment.
In 2008, the criminal justice landscape reached a historic peak in the United States, with incarceration rates hitting an all-time high of (approximately 1 in every 100 adults). This period was marked by significant legislative shifts and deep academic inquiries into the purpose and efficacy of modern justice systems. The "Great Recession" and Economic Shifts
: Official papers from 2008, such as "Prisons with a Purpose," emphasized that prisons should focus on incapacitation, punishment/deterrence, and rehabilitation . Global and Philosophical Perspectives
The 2008 financial crisis forced a paradigm shift in how criminal justice was administered, introducing the concept of to a field previously less touched by economic austerity.
: There was a growing impulsion to reflect on whether the system should continue punishing low-harm "petty" crimes at the same intensity while major financial crimes crushed the expectations of millions.
: Scholars like Antonio Cassese questioned the "point" of international criminal justice, arguing that forensically-generated information in courtrooms often distorts historical truth and may carry more weight than it deserves.