Description:
A comparative study, this book provides a comprehensive and balanced review of the philosophy and practicality of punishment. It analyzes the efficacy of both traditional methods and novel approaches to produce an objective and sober appraisal of the theory, practice, history, and empirical evidence used in crime prevention, identification, retribution, and incarceration. It considers the sociology of prisoners, changing attitudes in penal practice, abolition of capital punishment, and non-incarcerative and alternative punishments, as well as several methods for achieving measurable crime prevention. It also presents case studies that illustrate the concepts discussed.