NCJ Number
225707
Date Published
2008
Length
212 pages
Annotation
This book provides an up-to-date introduction to the relationship between families, prisons, and penal policies in the United Kingdom; explores current debates in relation to prisoners and their families; and introduces the reader to relevant theoretical approaches.
Abstract
An underlying theme of this book is that families living with imprisonment merit far more attention from policymakers and academics than they currently receive. While prisoners experience the primary effects of prison and deprivation of liberty, their families live their lives in the shadow of prison. This book offers an introduction to the situation of prisoners’ families, primarily in the United Kingdom but also in a range of other jurisdictions, particularly those such as the United States and Australia, both of which are experiencing a dramatic increase in the prison population and a shift towards punitive policies in sentencing. The book offers an introduction to this diverse field, encouraging further research, debate, and discussion. Interdisciplinary in nature, the book incorporates perspectives drawn from criminology, sociology, social work, and law. It includes: (1) an exploration of key aspects of the consequences of imprisonment for prisoners and their families; (2) an assessment of the role of current prison policies and practices in promoting and maintaining relationships; (3) a critical analysis of the response of the law to prisoners’ families; and (4) a discussion of the family relationships of women prisoners. Moving beyond the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the impact of imprisonment on families is a global issue. It is important to recognize the invisible punishment of prisoners’ families as a global phenomenon. Notes, bibliography, and index