What Do We Know and What Should We Do About Abolishing Prisons?

Joe Sim

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English

Sage Publications Ltd
04 June 2025

Penology & punishment; Rehabilitation of offenders; Probation services

Series: What Do We Know and What Should We Do About:

This book challenges the myths and misrepresentations that justify the existence of prisons. It traces the history and failure of prison reform over two centuries, addresses a number of key, contemporary issues and argues for the abolition of prisons.

It explores:

The problem with liberal reformism. The myths around crime, the prison population and prison regimes. People in prison and the harms they experience. The relationship between prisons, punishment and structural inequality. The case for abolishing prisons.

Aimed at students, researchers, grassroots organisations, prisoners’ rights activists, policy makers and anyone interested in social justice, its conclusion is clear; there needs to be fundamental and meaningful change. Prisons, the criminal injustice system and structural inequalities need to be radically transformed and abolished if social justice is to be achieved.

Written by leading social scientists, the What Do We Know and What Should We Do About...? series offers concise, up-to-date overviews of issues often oversimplified, misrepresented or misunderstood and shows you how to enact change.

""Short, sharp and compelling."" - Alex Preston, The Observer

""If you want to learn a lot about what matters most, in as short a time as possible, this is the series for you.""- Danny Dorling, 1971 Professor of Geography, University of Oxford

By: Joe Sim
Imprint: Sage Publications Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 148mm,
Weight: 190g
ISBN: 9781529684605
ISBN 10: 1529684609
Series: What Do We Know and What Should We Do About:
Pages: 136
Publication Date: 04 June 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Background: A History of Failure and Success Chapter 3: What Do We Know, And Not Know About Crime and the Prison Population? Chapter 4: What Do We Know and Not Know About Prisons? Myths and Misrepresentations Chapter 5: New Government, Old Compromises Chapter 6: What Should Be Done? The Case for Abolishing Prisons Chapter 7: Conclusion

Joe Sim is Emeritus Professor of Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. He has written extensively about prisons, the state and punishment. He was a member of the Radical Alternatives to Prison Collective and is currently a Trustee of the charity INQUEST.