Prisons and Punishment in America: Examining the Facts

Synthesizing the latest scholarship in law and the social sciences on criminal sentencing and corrections, this book provides a thorough, balanced, and accessible survey of the major policy issues in these fields of persistent public interest and political debate. • Provides readers with an accessible introduction to important, timely topics of public debate • Maintains a neutral, balanced perspective on a subject often a matter of heated partisanship • Reveals the subtle connections between different aspects of the criminal justice system that are often missed in policy discussions • Synthesizes leading academic work in law and the social sciences • Provides a balanced assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of significant reform proposals