Prisons and Punishment

Prisons and Punishment provides a critical introduction to the main debates and dilemmas associated with prisons, imprisonment and punishment, and will acquaint readers with the most interesting and influential literature that has shaped the field. The three-volume set of original classic and contemporary readings is designed to introduce readers to the history and development of prisons, to contemporary theories and issues relating to prison populations, to sociological and psychological literature on the ′effects′ of imprisonment, to debates about the management and privatisation of the prison estate and to controversial issues and emerging trends in punishment across the globe.

Prisons and Punishment is particularly timely because of the exponentially growing prison populations in many countries and because of new cultures of control which are criminalizing increasing numbers of people and creating a crisis in the penal system.

Volume 1 The Meaning of the Prison: Punishment in an Historical and Comparative Context outlines the emergence of the modern prison and explores differing contemporary models of imprisonment in various parts of the world.

Volume 2 Prisoners and Prison Communities explores the pervasive characteristics and ′effects′ of imprisonment from sociological and psychological perspectives. It discusses life in prison for all its occupants, and also considers the effects of imprisonment on prisoners′ families.

Volume 3 Punishment: Controversial Issues and Emerging Debates examines prisons in market societies, covering recent moves towards increasing managerialism and greater accountability, prison inspection and human rights issues. It looks at some of the most controversial issues and problems blighting prison systems around the world and discusses the notion of a ′carceral society′.

Prisons and Punishment is the definitive tool with which to navigate the fields of penology and prison studies. Each volume in this definitive set includes an introduction by the editor.