References

Abstract

This book is about prisons and the broader penal policy in which they sit. Many of us are drawn to the study of criminology and subsequently penology because we are interested in how we should respond to individuals who break the law. The book is centrally concerned with the prison system in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems). The word ‘prison’ conjures up questions about the aims of punishment, and they naturally diverge opinion because the central issue of what should we do with people who break the law remains one of the most challenging and divisive issues in our society. The UK spent approximately £5.63 billion on its prison system in 2020/21, one of the highest amounts in the last ten years (HM Treasury, 2021). It has a workforce of over 50,000 individuals and a total prisoner population that has stayed at the 80,000 mark for several years. How this system operates, what the prison experience is like for prisoners and the prospects for reducing reoffending are addressed in this guide. The book is packed with helpful features throughout to help you get the best out of your studies of prisons and penology. The text aims to provide various insights to challenge your thinking, inspire you to think broadly about penal policy and have a deeper appreciation of the challenges that prisons and those inside them face.