An Introduction to Penology: Punishment, Prisons and Probation

Lawrence Burke, Dr Helena Gosling

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781526492838, 9781526492845
• eBook ISBN: 9781529765175
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Criminology
• Index: Social Sciences

An Introduction to Penology is a concise, informative, scholarly guide that will speak to a variety of audiences interested in how the notion of punishment plays out in community and custodial settings with people who have broken the law. With a particular focus on prisons and probation, the book provides an opportunity for readers to critically engage with the concept of punishment (in theory and practice) and consider different ways in which we, as a society, can respond to lawbreaking.

• The text will allow students to pursue a more in-depth study of two of the main criminal justice institutions through the lens of their organisational structures, cultures, service delivery and responses to the needs of minority and vulnerable groups. 

• Throughout the text, students will be encouraged to critically engage with longstanding penological debates taking into consideration the theory, policy and practice of punishment, and will explore ways in which we can rethink penology on an individual and social level and begin to make a case for social justice rather than criminal justice.

This innovative and contemporary text is a must read for students studying criminology, criminal justice, penology and those interested in pursuing a career in either the prison or probation services.

Lol Burke is Professor in Criminal Justice and Dr Helena Gosling is a Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Publisher Note
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of contents
• Detailed table of contents
• About the Authors
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction Why punishment, prisons and probation?
• 1 Understanding contemporary penology Perspectives
• 2 Understanding contemporary penology Models and approaches
• 3 Theorising prisons and imprisonment
• 4 Theorising probation and rehabilitation
• 5 Organisation and structure of prisons
• 6 Organisation and structure of probation
• 7 Prison cultures
• 8 Probation cultures
• 9 Working with people in prison
• 10 Working with people in the community
• 11 Understanding vulnerability in prison settings
• 12 Understanding vulnerability in community settings
• 13 Beyond punishment, prisons and probation
• Index