Why Prison [Paperback]

This book brings together some of the world's leading writers to engage with the most profound question in penology: why prison?Why is prison so deeply embedded in popular consciousness? How has prison become synonymous with the broader notion of punishment? And why are prison populations in many nations growing at an alarmingly fast rate? David Scott critically reflects upon these issues and asks an equally important question: why not prison?Why is prison so deeply embedded in popular consciousness? How has prison become synonymous with the broader notion of punishment? And why are prison populations in many nations growing at an alarmingly fast rate? David Scott critically reflects upon these issues and asks an equally important question: why not prison?Prison studies has experienced a period of great creativity in recent years, and this collection draws together some of the field's most exciting and innovative contemporary critical writers in order to engage directly with one of the most profound questions in penology - why prison? In addressing this question, the authors connect contemporary penological thought with an enquiry that has received the attention of some of the greatest thinkers on punishment in the past. Through critical exploration of the theories, policies and practices of imprisonment, the authors analyse why prison persists and why prisoner populations are rapidly rising in many countries. Collectively, the chapters provide not only a sophisticated diagnosis and critique of global hyper-incarceration but also suggest principles and strategies that could be adopted to radically reduce our reliance upon imprisonment.Foreword: on stemming the tide Thomas Mathiesen; 1. Why prison? Posing the question David Scott; 2. Prisons and social structure in late-capitalist societies Alessandro De Giorgi; 3. The prison paradox in neoliberal Britain Emma Bell; 4. Crafting the neoliberal state: workfare, prisonfare, and social insecurity Lo?c Wacquant; 5. PleasulÃ