The Normativity of Using Prison to Control Hate Speech: The Hollowness of Waldron's Harm Theory

37 Pages Posted: 18 Oct 2013 Last revised: 4 Feb 2014

See all articles by Dennis Baker

Dennis Baker

University of Cambridge

Lucy Zhao

University of Sheffield

Date Written: October 17, 2013

Abstract

We question the justice of using prison sentences to control hate speech. It is argued that prison sentences should be used only to deter offensive and hateful speech that harms others. However, the harm requirement cannot be satisfied merely by demonstrating theoretical harm in the abstract, as Jeremy Waldron does in his recent book. Instead, factual harm has to be demonstrated because prison is in fact very harmful for the expresser of the offensive and hateful speech. There is noting wrong with penal measures being used to deter this kind of speech, but harmful prison sentences should not be used to deter harmless speech. Waldron asserts that the United States should follow the British model, among others, of using prison to control and chill free (hate) speech. Waldron wants a model of unfree speech for some. We aim to show that the United States should resist enacting hate speech laws similar to the unjust laws found in Britain, where people have received long prison sentences for uttering offensive and hateful thoughts. To use prison sentences is to use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut: it is a grossly disproportionate and unjust penal response. Particular issue is taken with Waldron’s harm theory. The core element of the paper is the Waldron debate, because the type of vacuous harm theory he puts forward has the potential to be used by lawmakers to justify unjust penal responses such as harmful prison sentences for harmless (even though grossly offensive) speech.

Suggested Citation

Baker, Dennis and Zhao, Lucy, The Normativity of Using Prison to Control Hate Speech: The Hollowness of Waldron's Harm Theory (October 17, 2013). (2013) 16(4) New Criminal Law Review 621-656, Buffalo Criminal Law Review, Vol. 16, No. 3, 2013, King's College London Law School Research Paper No. 2013-2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2341559 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2341559

Dennis Baker (Contact Author)

University of Cambridge ( email )

Trinity Ln
Cambridge, CB2 1TN
United Kingdom

Lucy Zhao

University of Sheffield ( email )

17 Mappin Street
Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DT
United Kingdom

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
309
Abstract Views
1,916
Rank
179,220
PlumX Metrics