Addicted to Incarceration
Corrections Policy and the Politics of Misinformation in the United States

Second Edition

Travis C. Pratt - University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute, USA

November 2018 | 160 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

In Addicted to Incarceration, author Travis C. Pratt uses an evidence-based approach to explore the consequences of what he terms America's "addiction to incarceration." Highlighting the scope of the issue, the nature of the political discussions surrounding criminal justice policy in general and corrections policy in particular, and the complex social cost of incarceration, this book takes an incisive look at the approach to corrections in the United States.

The Second Edition demonstrates that the United States' addiction to incarceration has been fueled by American citizens' opinions about crime and punishment, the use of incarceration as a means of social control, and perhaps most important, by policies legitimized by faulty information. Analyzing crime policies as they relate to crime rates and society's ability to both lower the crime rate and address the role of incarceration in preventing future crime, this book shows students how ineffective the rush to incarcerate has been in the past and offers recommendations and insights to navigate this significant problem going forward.

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ISBN: 9781544308050	Paperback	Suggested Retail Price: $68.00	Bookstore Price: $54.40
ISBN: 9781544345062	Electronic Version	Suggested Retail Price: $52.00	Bookstore Price: $41.60

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Preface to the Second Edition

New to the Second Edition

Acknowledgments

PART I: SETTING THE STAGE

1. Introduction

The Politics and Consequences of Incarceration

Summary

Discussion Questions

Key Readings

2. The Politics of Punishment in the United States

Problem Ownership, Punishment Philosophies, and Changes in Corrections Policy Over Time

Political Capital and Getting Tough

The Rise of Evidence-Based Correctional Policy

Summary

Discussion Questions

Key Readings

PART II: SOURCES AND DIMENSIONS OF MISINFORMATION

3. Misinformation About the Crime Problem

Victimization and the Fear of Crime

Nonserious Crime as Gateway Offending?

Incapacitation and Errors in Prediction

Summary

Discussion Questions

Notes

Key Readings

4. Misinformation About Public Opinion

Global Versus Specific Attitudes About Punishment

Public Support for Alternative Punishment Philosophies

Summary

Discussion Questions

Notes

Key Readings

5. Misinformation About Prisons and Crime Control

Prisons and Crime Control: The Empirical Evidence

Rethinking Offender Decision Making

Summary

Discussion Questions

Notes

Key Readings

PART III: CONSEQUENCES AND MOVING FORWARD

6. The Social Costs of Incarceration

Consequences of Incarceration for Offenders

Consequences of Incarceration for Families and Children

Consequences of Incarceration for Communities

Consequences of Incarceration for Social Institutions

The Case of Immigration, Crime, and Punishment

Summary

Discussion Questions

Notes

Key Readings

7. Conclusions and Recommendations

The Persistent Addiction

Rethinking Crime Control Policy

Rethinking Corrections Policy

Reconnecting Evidence With Policy

Parting Thoughts: Breaking the Addiction

Discussion Questions

Key Readings

References

About the Author

Index

Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

The text has been thoroughly updated to reflect the policy changes implemented by the Trump administration, encouraging timely classroom discussions.
Discussion questions and suggested readings have been added to the end of each chapter, keeping students focused on important concepts and better supporting their learning.
Coverage of key new topics highlight changes in correctional practices and include the rise of evidence-based crime control and corrections policy and an overview of the revival of the rational/choice deterrence, get-tough philosophy in recent years.
Increasing the focus on the social cost of incarceration for vulnerable populations, a discussion of the consequences of incarceration for families and children of incarcerated parents, as well as a new section on immigration, crime, and punishment, has been added.
The final chapter has been fully revised and focuses on recommendations for the future, particularly with tips for readers on how to evaluate the validity and reliability of scientific information in a critical way.
The statistics, data, and research has been updated to clearly show the state of the correctional system in the United States today.

KEY FEATURES:

Real world examples open each chapter and put a human face on the discussed topics.
Race, ethnicity, and gender issues underlie all discussions and address key aspects of incarceration rates and crime trends.
The social costs of incarceration are explored, including the heightened inmate risk of personal victimization, incarceration's effect as a barrier to successful offender reintegration into society, and its role in exacerbating existing racial inequalities.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction

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Addicted to Incarceration
Corrections Policy and the Politics of Misinformation in the United States

Sample Materials & Chapters

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