Net Widening

Definition of Net Widening

The Canada social science dictionary [1] provides the following meaning of Net Widening: Within critical criminology this term is used to describe the effects of providing alternatives to incarceration or diversion programs to direct offenders away from court. While all of these programs developed since the late 1960’s were intended to reduce the numbers of offenders in prison or reduce the numbers going to court, it has been found that what has happened instead is that the total numbers of offenders under the control of the state have increased while the population targeted for reduction has not been reduced. In short, the net of social control has been thrown more widely (or some might say the mesh has been made smaller). See: CRIME NET in this legal dictionary and in the world encyclopedia of law.

Net Widening: Resources

Notes and References

• Drislane, R., & Parkinson, G. (2016). (Concept of) Net Widening. Online dictionary of the social sciences. Open University of Canada