Prisons in the United States: A Reference Handbook

(Hardback)

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Description

Offering perspectives from a range of experts, both academic and nonacademic, this reference book examines the development of prisons in the United States and addresses the principal contemporary issues and controversies of our prisons and prison systems. Prisons were initially created as a means of reforming offenders, but over time, the objective of rehabilitation gave way to a strategy of mass imprisonmenta system that has resulted in correctional facilities dealing with serious problems such as overcrowding, prison gangs, pervasive violence, and a significant incidence of mental illness among inmates. Prisons in the United States: A Reference Handbook examines the history of corrections in America, detailing how well-intentioned policies intended to "get tough on crime" sanctioned the dismantling of parole systems and resulted in laws that imposed mandatory minimum sentences. These changes contributed to the United States now having the biggest incarcerated population worldwide and the highest rate of incarceration. The book offers an accessible history of the development of the prison system in the United States and analyzes the various problems and controversies associated with prisons in the present day. The coverage includes key related issues, including those of race and gender, and enables readers to understand how past developments continue to affect public and official perceptions of the prison experiencefor example, how the practice of keeping inmates in solitary confinement for lengthy periods has been reinvented and represents a return to a historically discredited practice. Accounts of former inmates and of correctional officers are integrated into the text, adding context and offering rarely heard perspectives on difficult issues affecting prisons.

Reviews

Provides clear, authoritative background on the past and present on the topic . . . chronology, glossary, organizations and comprehensive index further enhance the value for students and researchers. * Booklist Online *
This text makes a wonderful resource for shortening student research time. * School Library Connection *
This volume provides a solid overview of the history and background of U.S. prisons. . . . Although intended as a reference source, this volume is a good introduction for undergraduates and could just as easily belong in a circulating collection. Summing Up: Highly recommended. High school through undergraduate students; professionals/practitioners; general readers. * Choice *

Author Bio

Cyndi Banks is associate vice president at Capilano University in Canada and emeritus professor of criminology and criminal justice, Northern Arizona University.