This book teaches the reasons (the “philosophies”) behind our application of different penal sanctions (the “practices”) and the ways (the “procedures”) chosen to achieve social control.

Organized around the concepts of philosophies, practices, and procedures, this text also integrates historical and international material. This approach reflects the author's belief that an understanding of current corrections procedures in the United States is increased when those procedures are placed in a historical context and when they are compared and contrasted with strategies used in other settings, including other countries.