Understanding prisons and the policies surrounding them is of fundamental importance to students and practitioners of criminology and related fields. This concise and accessible guide offers a compendium of key information, theories, concepts, research and policy, presenting a rounded and critical overview of the prison system in England and Wales. Covering the historical and contemporary context of prisons, the text guides the reader through the work of prison officers, a tour of international prisons and how prison life is experienced by different groups, such as women. Focusing on the experiences of stakeholder groups and the themes of power, legitimacy and rehabilitation, the book concludes with an overview of the future challenges for prisons. Each chapter includes key learning features: - end of chapter questions; - definitions of key terms and concepts; - examples and illustrative case studies; - learning outcomes; - summary boxes of major research studies and further reading.

Based on extensive empirical research, this groundbreaking book describes and analyses existing systems for enforcing sentences of imprisonment imposed by international criminal courts and makes recommendations for the strategic and structural development of the international penal system. In particular, it advocates a resocialisation-focused international penal policy delivered using restorative justice modalities post-conviction and the creation of an accountable international prison system. Singly or combined, these developments will contribute to the institutionalisation of the international penal system and enhance the international nature of the sanction, the international control over the way international punishment is enforced and the equal treatment of international prisoners. These developments will also help to ensure that international punishment is principled and progressive and implemented in a humane and effective system.

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Crime and Social Policy discusses the criminal justice system in England and Wales in an accessible and engaging manner. This title guides students through the system's complexities, reviewing its history, highlighting current problems, and offering recommendations as to where and how it can be improved.

Praise for the First Edition: `The authors appear to do an excellent job of describing the criminal justice system of England, and how the penal system fits into, and is affected by it' - Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice The Third Edition of this highly successful textbook provides an accessible introduction to the penal system of England and Wales. Now fully revised and updated it includes an examination of the direction of penal policy under New Labour.

Harding and Koffman is the leading collection of materials on penal policy, and brings together key extracts from sources including cases and statutes, books and articles, official documents and reports. The second edition takes account of all recent statutory, common law and research developments and provides a thought provoking analysis of a complex subject by setting the sentencing and penal system within its contextual framework. Contains a diverse collection of materials within one cover. Critical, contextual approach to further understanding. Authors' questions assist understanding and provoke further discussion.