Addicted to Incarceration : Corrections Policy and the Politics of Misinformation in the United States

by Travis C. Pratt

• ISBN13: 9780761928324
• ISBN10: 0761928324
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-09-02
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

The broad purposes of this book would be to outline the 'scope of the problem' in terms of incarceration, to highlight the nature of the political discussions surrounding criminal justice policy in general and corrections policy in particular, and to explicitly discuss the role of misinformation on how the U.S. has ended up with its current state of incarceration (i.e., how we got to this state of affairs). Specifically, the primary thesis of the book will be that the U.S. has become 'addicted to incarceration,' and that this addiction has been fueled by policies legitimized by faulty information about the crime problem in the U.S., American citizens' opinions about crime and punishment, and the efficacy of incarceration as a means of social control. The book will also contain a detailed discussion regarding the consequences of the U.S.'s addiction to incarceration. Features and Benefits:An analysis of crime policies as they relate to the crime rates and U.S. society's ability to both lower the crime rate and address the role of incarceration in preventing future crime by ex-offenders and future potential offenders. Gives students a view as to how effective our rush to incarcerate has been in the last decade.Race, ethnicity, and gender issues underlie all discussions and address key aspects of incarceration rates and crime trends.The final chapter contains conclusions and recommendations for future policy makers.Written for a sophomore level audience in an informal and accessible style.An evidence-based approach - long on facts short on philosophy which makes it more appropriate for a lower division undergraduate student.Each chapter will begin with a case study to motivate the discussions that follow. Gives students a 'human face' to help give perspective on the issues.Chapters will end with questions designed to help focus students on the key points.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The Politics of Punishment in the United States

Misinformation About the Crime Problem

Misinformation About Public Opinion

Misinformation About Prisons and Crime Control

The Social Costs of Incarceration

Conclusions and Recommendations

References

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