Under what circumstances should juveniles be tried as adults? When is police force a warranted plan of action? How often is racial bias a factor in judging a suspect's culpability? How do officers assess an inmate's potential for rehabilitation? These are some of the most hotly debated questions in the field of corrections, often sparking discomfort and anger among those who wish to know more about these issues. Controversial Issues in Corrections attempts to provide factual information and a much-needed forum for discussion, utilizing a unique debate format to discuss controversial issues in the field of corrections. Topics addressed in this book were chosen with a conscious effort to include those that are the most controversial. Issues debated include the effect of shaming as an approach to punishment, the incarceration of pregnant women, the controversy of co-ed prisons, the increase of inmate lawsuits, and the execution of youthful murderers. The contributing authors, each solicited because of their expertise, come from a variety of backgrounds, academic disciplines and perspectives. Law enforcement officers, corrections officers, educators, students of law enforcement, and anyone interested in issues of criminal justice and the correctional process.

Controversial Issues in Prisons is a textbook designed to explore eight of the most controversial aspects of imprisonment in England and Wales today. It is primarily a book about the people who are sent to prison and what happens to them when inside. Each chapter examines a different dimension of the prison population and draws upon the sociological imagination to make connections between the personal troubles and vulnerabilities of those incarcerated with wider structural divisions which plague the society we live in. The book investigates controversies surrounding the incarceration of people with mental health problems, women, children, foreign nationals, offenders’ with suicidal ideation, sex offenders, drug takers and the collateral consequences of incarceration on prisoners' families. Each chapter on these eight substantive topics shares a common structure and answers the following key questions: How have people conceptualised this penal controversy? What does the official data tell us and what are its limitations? What is its historical context? What are the contemporary policies of the Prison Service? Are they legitimate and, if not, what are the alternatives? Ultimately the authors argue that in combination these controversial issues raise fundamental concerns about the legitimacy of the confinement project and the kind of society in which it is deemed essential. The book concludes with a discussion of why it remains important to make penal controversies visible, challenge penological illiteracy and provide alternative means of responding to human wrongdoing rooted in the principles of human rights and social justice.

This edited collection brings together leading international academics and researchers to provide a comprehensive body of literature that informs the future of prison and wider corrective services training, education, research, policy and practice. This volume addresses a range of 21st century issues faced by modern corrective services including, prison overcrowding, young and ageing offenders, mental health, sexual assault in corrective facilities, trans communities in corrective services and radicalisation of offenders within corrective services. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach and drawing together theoretical and practice debates, the book comprehensively considers current challenges and future trajectories for corrective systems, the people within them and service delivery. This volume will also be a welcomed resource for academics and researchers who have an interest in prisons, corrective services practice and broader criminal justice issues. It will also be of interest to those who want to join corrective services, those who are currently training to become personnel in corrective services and related allied professions, and those who are currently working in the field.

Over the past four decades, the rate of incarceration in the United States has skyrocketed to unprecedented heights, both historically and in comparison to that of other developed nations. At far higher rates than the general population, those in or entering U.S. jails and prisons are prone to many health problems. This is a problem not just for them, but also for the communities from which they come and to which, in nearly all cases, they will return. Health and Incarceration is the summary of a workshop jointly sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences(NAS) Committee on Law and Justice and the Institute of Medicine(IOM) Board on Health and Select Populations in December 2012. Academics, practitioners, state officials, and nongovernmental organization representatives from the fields of healthcare, prisoner advocacy, and corrections reviewed what is known about these health issues and what appear to be the best opportunities to improve healthcare for those who are now or will be incarcerated. The workshop was designed as a roundtable with brief presentations from 16 experts and time for group discussion. Health and Incarceration reviews what is known about the health of incarcerated individuals, the healthcare they receive, and effects of incarceration on public health. This report identifies opportunities to improve healthcare for these populations and provides a platform for visions of how the world of incarceration health can be a better place.

Current Issues in Corrections explores a variety of the most timely and salient challenges facing the correctional system. The text is comprised of chapters written by experts in the field who have experience as both academic and criminal justice practitioners.The book begins with an exploration of issues in private corrections and then moves forward to discuss the history of the field, legal issues, jails, diversion programs, community corrections, institutional corrections, correctional career concerns, and the interaction of the system with women, people of color, and juveniles. The text concludes by considering the future of capital punishment in America and examining the field of corrections from a human rights perspective. Each chapter includes pre-reading and post-reading questions to stimulate reflection and critical thinking. Featuring a unique balance of theory and practice, Current Issues in Corrections is an exemplary textbook for courses in criminal justice and corrections.

Controversial Issues in Criminal Justice: An Active Learning Approach presents students with enlightening, thought-provoking articles regarding a variety of complex and emerging issues within the discipline. The readings are complemented by discussion questions, active learning exercises, and suggested readings and websites. These activities and opportunities immerse students within the subject matter, draw connections between the material and real-world applications, and inspir