The institutions of criminal justice – most particularly the police, courts, and corrections – do not exist in a moral, social, or political vacuum, but reflect important and often controversial assumptions. The three chapters that follow attempt to expose and reflect on some of those assumptions, not specifically to reject them but to enable us to hear the “accent” with which we speak when we consider the activities of police, courts, and corrections. Our accent is that of a liberal democratic tradition, with roots in Greek, Judaeo-Christian, and Enlightenment thinking, characterized by ideas of equality, dignity, freedom, and responsibility, but increasingly enriched and challenged by ideas from other traditions. It is within this increasingly diverse environment that the institutions of criminal justice must develop a voice that is not only faithful to their heritage but also sensitive to the legitimate expectations of those who have come within their reach.