The Crime of Punishment

The Crime of Punishment, originally published in 1966, addressed the critical issue of crime in America and how we punish criminals. Was the spread of violence in spite of our laws and courts or because of them and us? Dr. Menninger dissected the criminal justice system and concluded, "I suspect that all the crimes committed by all the jailed criminals do not equal in total social damage that of the crimes committed against them." Dr. Menninger, the esteemed psychiatrist, former chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Menninger Foundation in Topeka, and former senior consultant to the Stone-Brandel Center in Chicago, gave us a thoughtful manual 40 years ago that is highly relevant and seriously applicable to the criminal justice system today. Hopefully, by republishing this valuable lesson book, we will apply his teachings and correct the system of corrections. New Leaf - New Life, Inc./Citizens for Effective Justice, which was instrumental in the republishing of this book, is a criminal justice reformation advocacy organization dedicated to transformational change. Visit to learn about efforts across the country to implement Dr. Menninger's ideas for a more effective criminal justice system.This book is being republished with the permission of the Kansas Historical Society, curator of Dr. Menninger's archives.