This book investigates the theoretical and practical mechanisms required to implement a sentencing system based on the principle of proportionality. Andrew Von Hirsch, a scholar in criminal law and sentencing theory, utilizes the framework of penal censure to argue that the severity of a sanction must correspond directly to the gravity of the offense committed. He examines the tension between these normative ideals and the reality of political pressures that frequently distort sentencing policies.

Legal scholars and practitioners frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the desert-based model of sentencing. Experts note the academic rigor of the prose, which provides a clear, logical defense of proportionality in criminal justice systems.