Punishment in America: A Reference Handbook (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781851096763)

From the Salem witch trials to death row, this work is a gripping analysis of the evolution of punishment practices, policies, and problems in America.

From Puritan ducking stools to boot camps and supermax prisons, Punishment in America investigates the evolution of punishment in the United States. Intriguing inquiries into penitentiaries, parole, capital punishment, and other sanctions reveal how the rationales behind them--retribution, rehabilitation, and deterrence--reflect changes in society, culture, and values.

Reaching beyond the typical focus on prisons and incarceration to extralegal lynchings and vigilante operations and the treatment of the poor and the mentally challenged, this remarkable review also explores the impact of stricter laws on pedophiles and drug offenders and the effect of three-strikes legislation and truth in sentencing. This thought-provoking work will help readers understand the conflicting roles that punishment has played in delivering justice and promoting rehabilitation.

Author: Cyndi Banks
ISBN-10: 1851096760
ISBN-13: 9781851096763
Publisher: ABC-CLIO
Language: English
Published: 04/19/2005
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.38w x 1.12d

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 08/01/2005 pg. 78
Library Journal 09/15/2005 pg. 89
Rec Ref Bks for Small/Med Libr 01/01/2006 pg. 120
American Reference Bks Annual 01/01/2006 pg. 259