A History of Prisons and Imprisonment

Prisons: A Journey Through History, Punishment, and the Search for Justice

Embark on a captivating journey through the long and complex history of prisons and imprisonment with this comprehensive and thought-provoking book.

From ancient dungeons and medieval monastic confinement to the rise of the penitentiary and the explosion of mass incarceration, this book traces the evolution of punishment and the social, political, and economic forces that have shaped the prison system.

Inside, you'll discover:

• The origins of confinement and punishment in ancient civilizations

• The rise of the workhouse and its role in shaping early modern approaches to poverty and social control

• The Enlightenment ideals that gave birth to the penitentiary and the competing models of prison design

• The dark history of transportation and penal colonies

• The American prison system, from Walnut Street to Auburn, and the debate over solitary confinement

• The rise of the reformatory movement and the search for alternatives to incarceration

• The unique challenges faced by women, people of color, and other marginalized groups within the prison system

• The complex relationship between prisons and labor, from exploitation to rehabilitation

• The rise of the supermax prison and the end of rehabilitation

• The impact of the War on Drugs and the explosion of the prison population

• The ethical and legal controversies surrounding the death penalty and the privatization of prisons

• The promise of restorative justice and the movement for prison abolition

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in:

• Criminal justice

• Social justice

• History

• Sociology

• Law

• Political science

• Human rights