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French Prison System: Comparative Insights for Policy and Practice in New York and the United States

NCJ Number
245614
Author(s)
Lila Kazemian; Catrin Andersson
Date Published
June 2012
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This report offers a brief overview of the French prison system and the elements of that system that stand in contrast to the policies and practices of corrections agencies in the United States.
Abstract
Findings show that despite many differences between French and American correctional practices, the two countries have common challenges as well. This report offers a brief overview of the French prison system and describes how the elements of that system compare with the policies and practices of corrections agencies in New York and the United States as a whole. Topics covered include: the general structure of the French correctional system; types of correctional facilities; staff training; prisoner employment; physical and mental health; juvenile offenders; reentry initiatives; comparing systems; philosophy of punishment; transparency; de-racialized statistics; private partnerships; physical layout of facilities; and risk assessment. Figures and references