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Professionalism and the impact of England’s first women justices, 1920-1950

Logan, Anne F. (2006) Professionalism and the impact of England’s first women justices, 1920-1950. Historical Journal, 49 (3). pp. 833-850. ISSN 0018-246X. (doi:10.1017/S0018246X0600553X) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:297)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X0600553X

Abstract

This article examines the impact of England's first women justices of the peace (JPs) on the work of lay magistrates in the period 1920–50. It argues that the early women JPs (many of whom had been active in the women's suffrage campaign), and the organizations that they belonged to, helped to transform the institution of the lay magistracy by adopting a more ‘professional’ approach, evidenced in their willingness to educate and train themselves for their new role. In consequence, this article challenges conventional definitions of ‘professionalism’, arguing that, where the work of JPs was concerned, the boundary between ‘voluntary’ and ‘professional’ activities was less clear than might be supposed. Furthermore, the willingness of many women magistrates in particular (later followed by some of their male colleagues) to undergo training helped to ensure the survival of the lay element in the criminal justice system to the present day.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/S0018246X0600553X
Uncontrolled keywords: women justice
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Samantha Osborne
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 18:09 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:39 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/297 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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