Professor Bastien Quirion, a researcher and professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences’ Department of Criminology, has published a new book, ‘Les enjeux éthiques de l’intervention en criminologie: Relation d’aide, contrainte et réflexivité’, with Presses de l’Université du Québec (PUQ).
Working with people who are involved in the justice system or experiencing vulnerability often requires professionals to make complex decisions within institutional environments governed by legal, professional and organizational standards. Even interventions undertaken with the best intentions can sometimes have unintended or harmful consequences, particularly for people experiencing homelessness, addiction or mental health challenges.
Professor Quirion’s book places reflexivity at the heart of ethical criminological practice: the ability to critically examine interventions, their underlying assumptions and their potential impacts. It argues that while legal and professional standards provide essential guidance, they cannot, on their own, resolve all the ethical questions criminologists encounter in practice.
Designed as a conceptual and theoretical toolkit, the book provides a framework to help structure professional judgment, encourage reflexivity and support informed and coherent decision-making. Topics range from the foundations and theories of ethics to intervention and power, ethical principles and dilemmas, legal and professional standards, deliberation and professional autonomy.
Taking a critical and humanistic approach, the book invites students, researchers and practitioners to think more deeply about the responsibilities associated with criminological intervention and the importance of maintaining space for professional judgment and ethical reflection.
Professor Quirion has been a researcher and professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa since 2002. His expertise focuses on interventions involving people who are involved in the justice system and those experiencing vulnerability.
Learn more about ‘Les enjeux éthiques de l’intervention en criminologie’ through Presses de l’Université du Québec