Handbook on Sentencing Policies and Practices in the 21st Century

Download Handbook on Sentencing Policies and Practices in the 21st Century PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 0429650930
Total Pages : 407 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (296 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Handbook on Sentencing Policies and Practices in the 21st Century by : Cassia Spohn

Download or read book Handbook on Sentencing Policies and Practices in the 21st Century written by Cassia Spohn and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2019-06-14 with total page 407 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sentencing Policies and Practices in the 21st Century focuses on the evolution and consequences of sentencing policies and practices, with sentencing broadly defined to include plea bargaining, judicial and juror decision making, and alternatives to incarceration, including participation in problem-solving courts. This collection of essays and reports of original research explores how sentencing policies and practices, both in the United States and internationally, have evolved, explores important issues raised by guideline and non-guideline sentencing, and provides an overview of recent research on plea bargaining in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Other topics include the role of criminal history in sentencing, the past and future of capital punishment, strategies for reducing mass incarceration, problem-solving courts, and restorative justice practices. Each chapter summarizes what is known, identifies the gaps in the research, and discusses the theoretical, empirical, and policy implications of the research findings. The volume is grounded in current knowledge about the specific topics, but also presents new material that reflects the thinking of the leading minds in the field and that outlines a research agenda for the future. This is Volume 4 of the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Corrections and Sentencing handbook series. Previous volumes focused on risk assessment, disparities in punishment, and the consequences of punishment decisions. The handbooks provide a comprehensive overview of these topics for scholars, students, practitioners, and policymakers.

The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections

Download The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0190241446
Total Pages : 777 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (92 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections by : Joan Petersilia

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections written by Joan Petersilia and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2015-04 with total page 777 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published: 2012. First issued as an Oxford University Press paperback 2015.

The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections

Download The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : OUP USA
ISBN 13 : 0199730148
Total Pages : 777 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (997 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections by : Joan Petersilia

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections written by Joan Petersilia and published by OUP USA. This book was released on 2012-04-06 with total page 777 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This handbook surveys American sentencing and corrections from global and historical views, from theoretical and policy perspectives, and with attention to a number of problem-specific issues.

Crime and Justice, Volume 45

Download Crime and Justice, Volume 45 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 022644094X
Total Pages : 512 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (264 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Crime and Justice, Volume 45 by : Michael Tonry

Download or read book Crime and Justice, Volume 45 written by Michael Tonry and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2017-02-22 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sentencing Policies and Practices in Western Countries: Comparative and Cross-national Perspectives is the forty-fifth addition to the Crime and Justice series. Contributors include Thomas Weigend on criminal sentencing in Germany since 2000; Julian V. Roberts and Andrew Ashworth on the evolution of sentencing policy and practice in England and Wales from 2003 to 2015; Jacqueline Hodgson and Laurène Soubise on understanding the sentencing process in France; Anthony N. Doob and Cheryl Marie Webster on Canadian sentencing policy in the twenty-first century; Arie Freiberg on Australian sentencing policies and practices; Krzysztof Krajewski on sentencing in Poland; Alessandro Corda on Italian policies; Michael Tonry on American sentencing; and Tapio Lappi-Seppälä on penal policy and sentencing in the Nordic countries.

Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward

Download Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 9780367857684
Total Pages : 428 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (576 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward by : Pamela K Lattimore

Download or read book Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward written by Pamela K Lattimore and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-11-11 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This volume will address major issues and research in corrections and sentencing with the goal of using previous research and findings as a platform for recommendations about future research, evaluation, and policy. The last several decades witnessed major policy changes in sentencing and corrections in the United States, as well as considerable research to identify the most effective strategies for addressing criminal behavior. These efforts, driven in part by drug epidemics and increases in crime in the late 20th century, included changes in sentencing led by the federal government that eliminated parole and imposed draconian sentences for violent and drug crimes. The federal government, followed by most states, implemented sentencing guidelines that greatly reduced the discretion of the courts to impose sentences. The results were a multi-fold increase in the numbers of individuals in jails, prisons, and on community supervision-increases that have only recently crested. In addition to changes in sentencing practices, there were efforts to engage prosecutors and the courts in diversion and oversight. These efforts included the development of prosecutorial diversion programs, as well as a variety of specialty courts including those addressing offenders with drug or mental health issues and those focused on individuals with other types of special needs such as youths or veterans. Penal reform has included efforts to rehabilitate prisoners, including a variety of federal-led efforts focused on reentry programming. Community corrections reforms have ranged from increased surveillance through drug testing, electronic monitoring, and in some cases, judicial oversight, to rehabilitative efforts driven by risk and needs assessment. More recently, the focus has included pretrial reform to reduce the number of people held in jail pending trial, efforts that have brought attention to the use of bail and its disproportionate impact on the poor. Other parts of the justice system have also increasingly turned to fees-for supervision, for drug testing, for "lodging" in jail-and fines to cover the agency costs and, in some cases, general fund expenditures. Inability to pay these fees and fines can lead to a cycle of incarceration that is difficult for an individual to break. This collection of essays from leading researchers in the field addresses a wide array of the latest research in the field, covering the broader areas of courts and sentencing; community supervision; and prisons, jails, and reentry. A unique approach featuring responses to the original essays by active researchers spurs discussion and provides a foundation for developing directions for future research and policymaking"--

Corrections in the 21st Century

Download Corrections in the 21st Century PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : McGraw-Hill Humanities, Social Sciences & World Languages
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 552 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Corrections in the 21st Century by : Frank Schmalleger

Download or read book Corrections in the 21st Century written by Frank Schmalleger and published by McGraw-Hill Humanities, Social Sciences & World Languages. This book was released on 2000 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Corrections in the 21st Century takes a practical approach to introducing students to the ideas and practices characteristic of modern corrections. It equips them with the skills necessary to succeed in the field. Its three-pronged approach to corrections includes a thorough description of correctional ideology, including professionalism, policy issues, and society's avowed goals for the correctional enterprise; a comprehensive overview of correctional practice, including the everyday operations of correctional agencies, prisons, jails, and the procedures of parole and probation; and the development of personal skills that are applicable to the corrections field. A central theme throughout the text is professionalism in corrections.The Tutorial with Simulation Applications that accompanies the text is a browser-based version of the textbook on CD-ROM. It includes key words, activities, and review games. Simulations on the CD present real-world situations for students to apply chapter concepts. Student responses receive immediate feedback regarding the appropriateness of their responses.

Sentencing Law and Policy

Download Sentencing Law and Policy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Aspen Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1543846580
Total Pages : 632 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (438 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Sentencing Law and Policy by : Nora Demleitner

Download or read book Sentencing Law and Policy written by Nora Demleitner and published by Aspen Publishing. This book was released on 2022-01-31 with total page 632 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sentencing Law and Policy: Cases, Statutes, and Guidelines, Fifth Edition

The Oxford Handbook of Criminology

Download The Oxford Handbook of Criminology PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198860919
Total Pages : 1020 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (988 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Oxford Handbook of Criminology by : Alison Liebling

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Criminology written by Alison Liebling and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2023-06-02 with total page 1020 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With contributions from leading authorities, this is the definitive guide to current criminological theory, research, and policy.The Oxford Handbook of Criminology provides a comprehensive collection of chapters covering the core and emerging topics studied on criminology courses, indispensable to students, academics, and professionals alike.· 43 chapters written by over 85 leading academics exploringrelevant theory, cutting-edge research, policy developments, and current debates, encouraging students to appreciate the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of criminological discourse· Includes detailedreferences to aid further research· Chapters updated to reflect recent cases, statistics, and scholarship, as well as significant current events such as Covid-19 and social justice movements.· New chapters added presenting research on topical issues including victimology, hate crime, desistance, cybercrime, atrocity crimes, convict criminology, security and smart cities, prison abolitionism, comparative criminology, sex offending, and networkcriminology.Digital formats and resourcesThe seventh edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources.- Thee-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks- The accompanying online resources include essay questions and links to useful websites for each chapter, along with guidance on answering essay questions and access to chapters from previous editions.

Sentencing Matters

Download Sentencing Matters PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 019802553X
Total Pages : 233 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (98 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Sentencing Matters by : Michael Tonry

Download or read book Sentencing Matters written by Michael Tonry and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1996-01-18 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Michael Tonry, an internationally recognized authority on criminology, offers in these pages a comprehensive overview of current research, policy developments, and practical experiences concerning sentencing and sanctions. He examines the effects of increased penalties and considers whether they have made America a safer place. Tonry contends that in order for sentencing to be fair and effective, comprehensive and defensible policies must be in place and mechanisms must exist to implement those policies. He also looks at mandatory penalties, community sanctions, and sentencing changes in other countries, and proposes sentencing policies for the twenty-first century. Sentencing has been going through reform for over twenty-five years, yet political debate on the subject has changed remarkably little. By offering a complete survey of new developments in both research and policy, Sentencing Matters is certain to spark fresh dialogue on this divisive issue.

U. S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual

Download U. S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781723100321
Total Pages : 602 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (3 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis U. S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual by : U. S. Sentencing U.S. Sentencing Commission

Download or read book U. S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual written by U. S. Sentencing U.S. Sentencing Commission and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-11 with total page 602 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States Sentencing Commission GUIDELINES MANUAL, remains in effect on November 1, 2017 as there were no new amendments promulgated by the Commission. The United States Sentencing Commission ("Commission") is an independent agency in the judicial branch composed of seven voting and two non-voting, ex officio members. Its principal purpose is to establish sentencing policies and practices for the federal criminal justice system that will assure the ends of justice by promulgating detailed guidelines prescribing the appropriate sentences for offenders convicted of federal crimes. Starting with Offense Conduct, the manual covers Adjustments, Criminal History and Criminal Livelihood, Determining the Sentence, Sentencing Procedures, Plea Agreements, and Crime Victims' Rights, Violations of Probation and Supervised Release and Sentencing of Organizations. Why buy a book you can download for free? We print this book so you don't have to. First you gotta find a good clean (legible) copy and make sure it's the latest version (not always easy). Some documents found on the web are missing some pages or the image quality is so poor, they are difficult to read. We look over each document carefully and replace poor quality images by going back to the original source document. We proof each document to make sure it's all there - including all changes. If you find a good copy, you could print it using a network printer you share with 100 other people (typically its either out of paper or toner). If it's just a 10-page document, no problem, but if it's 250-pages, you will need to punch 3 holes in all those pages and put it in a 3-ring binder. Takes at least an hour. It's much more cost-effective to just order the latest version from Amazon.com This book includes original commentary which is copyright material. Note that government documents are in the public domain. We print these large documents as a service so you don't have to. The books are compact, tightly-bound, full-size (8 1⁄2 by 11 inches), with large text and glossy covers. 4th Watch Publishing Co. is a SDVOSB. www.usgovpub.com You may want to look at other books we publish, search on www.Amazon.com Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (2017) Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (2017) Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (2017) Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (2017) Benchbook for U.S. District Court Judges (2013) Military Judges' Benchbook (2017) Principles of Federal Appropriations Law 4th Edition Immigration Court Practice Manual Manual de Práctica de la Corte de Inmigración DoD Law of War Manual (2016) DoD Operational Law Handbook (2017) DoD Domestic Operational Law Handbook (2015 DOPLAW) DoD Rule of Law Handbook (2015) Uniform Code of Military Justice (2018) Manual for Courts-Martial (2018) DoD Commander's Legal Handbook (2015) The Military Commander and the Law (2017) U.S. Courts Design Guide + Standard Level Features and Finishes GSA Courtroom Technology Manual See the rest of our titles at: www.usgovpub.com

Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward

Download Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1000204758
Total Pages : 394 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (2 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward by : Pamela K. Lattimore

Download or read book Handbook on Moving Corrections and Sentencing Forward written by Pamela K. Lattimore and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-11-10 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume addresses major issues and research in corrections and sentencing with the goal of using previous research and findings as a platform for recommendations about future research, evaluation, and policy. The last several decades witnessed major policy changes in sentencing and corrections in the United States, as well as considerable research to identify the most effective strategies for addressing criminal behavior. These efforts included changes in sentencing that eliminated parole and imposed draconian sentences for violent and drug crimes. The federal government, followed by most states, implemented sentencing guidelines that greatly reduced the discretion of the courts to impose sentences. The results were a multifold increase in the numbers of individuals in jails and prisons and on community supervision—increases that have only recently crested. There were also efforts to engage prosecutors and the courts in diversion and oversight, including the development of prosecutorial diversion programs, as well as a variety of specialty courts. Penal reform has included efforts to understand the transitions from prison to the community, including federal-led efforts focused on reentry programming. Community corrections reforms have ranged from increased surveillance through drug testing, electronic monitoring, and in some cases, judicial oversight, to rehabilitative efforts driven by risk and needs assessment. More recently, the focus has included pretrial reform to reduce the number of people held in jail pending trial, efforts that have brought attention to the use of bail and its disproportionate impact on people of color and the poor. This collection of chapters from leading researchers addresses a wide array of the latest research in the field. A unique approach featuring responses to the original essays by active researchers spurs discussion and provides a foundation for developing directions for future research and policymaking.

Sentencing & Corrections, Issues For The 21ST Century, Reconsidering Indeterminate And Structured Sentencing, Research In Brief, No. 2, September 1999

Download Sentencing & Corrections, Issues For The 21ST Century, Reconsidering Indeterminate And Structured Sentencing, Research In Brief, No. 2, September 1999 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 12 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Sentencing & Corrections, Issues For The 21ST Century, Reconsidering Indeterminate And Structured Sentencing, Research In Brief, No. 2, September 1999 by :

Download or read book Sentencing & Corrections, Issues For The 21ST Century, Reconsidering Indeterminate And Structured Sentencing, Research In Brief, No. 2, September 1999 written by and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 12 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Sentencing and Artificial Intelligence

Download Sentencing and Artificial Intelligence PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 019753953X
Total Pages : 297 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (975 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Sentencing and Artificial Intelligence by : Jesper Ryberg

Download or read book Sentencing and Artificial Intelligence written by Jesper Ryberg and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2022-02-04 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first collective work devoted exclusively to the ethical and penal theoretical considerations of the use of artificial intelligence at sentencing Is it morally acceptable to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the determination of sentences on those who have broken the law? If so, how should such algorithms be used--and what are the consequences? Jesper Ryberg and Julian V. Roberts bring together leading experts to answer these questions. Sentencing and Artificial Intelligence investigates to what extent, and under which conditions, justice and the social good may be promoted by allocating parts of the most important task of the criminal court--that of determining legal punishment--to computerized sentencing algorithms. The introduction of an AI-based sentencing system could save significant resources and increase consistency across jurisdictions. But it could also reproduce historical biases, decrease transparency in decision-making, and undermine trust in the justice system. Dealing with a wide-range of pertinent issues including the transparency of algorithmic-based decision-making, the fairness and morality of algorithmic sentencing decisions, and potential discrimination as a result of these practices, this volume offers avaluable insight on the future of sentencing.

Handbook on Pretrial Justice

Download Handbook on Pretrial Justice PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 100043186X
Total Pages : 464 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (4 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Handbook on Pretrial Justice by : Christine S. Scott-Hayward

Download or read book Handbook on Pretrial Justice written by Christine S. Scott-Hayward and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-09-20 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Handbook on Pretrial Justice covers the front end of the criminal legal system from pretrial diversion to pretrial detention or release. Often overlooked, the decisions made at the earliest phases of the criminal legal system have huge implications for defendants and their families, the community, and the system itself, and impact the entire criminal legal system. This collection of essays and reports of original research explores the complexities of pretrial decisions and practices and includes chapters in the following broad areas: the consequences of detention, pretrial decision-making, community supervision, and risk assessment. The book also includes a section looking at pretrial justice outside of the U.S. Each chapter summarizes what is known, identifies the gaps in the research, and discusses the theoretical, empirical, and policy implications of the research findings. This is Volume 6 of the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Corrections and Sentencing handbook series. The handbooks provide in-depth coverage of seminal and topical issues around sentencing and correction for scholars, students, practitioners, and policymakers.

Sentencing the Self-Convicted

Download Sentencing the Self-Convicted PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1509957456
Total Pages : 253 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (99 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Sentencing the Self-Convicted by : Julian V Roberts

Download or read book Sentencing the Self-Convicted written by Julian V Roberts and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2023-02-23 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses the fundamental ethical and legal aspects, penal consequences, and social context arising from a citizen's acceptance of guilt. The focus is upon sentencing people who have pleaded guilty; in short, post-adjudication, rather than issues arising from discussions in the pretrial phase of the criminal process. The vast majority of defendants across all common law jurisdictions plead guilty and as a result receive a reduced sentence. Concessions by a defendant attract more lenient State punishment in all western legal systems. The concession is significant: At a stroke, a guilty plea relieves the State of the burden of proving the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and in open court. Plea-based sentencing has become even more visible in recent years. The book provides insightful commentary on the following questions: - If an individual voluntarily accepts guilt, should the State receive this plea without further investigation or any disinterested adjudication? - Is it ethically acceptable to allow suspects and defendants, to self-convict in this manner, without independent confirmation and evidence to support a conviction? - If it is acceptable, what is the appropriate State response to such offenders? - If the defendant is detained pretrial, the ability to secure release in return for a plea may be particularly enticing. Might it be too enticing, resulting in wrongful convictions?

In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life

Download In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 1000643905
Total Pages : 68 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (6 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life by : Stuti S. Kokkalera

Download or read book In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life written by Stuti S. Kokkalera and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-06-22 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines how attorneys enable a meaningful opportunity for release for individuals sentenced to life as juveniles. The work provides a detailed overview of how legal representation facilitates opportunities for release for juveniles sentenced to life: “juvenile lifers”. It contributes to the broader literature on the importance of legal representation in the criminal legal system by investigating the role of an attorney in the parole process. Drawing on interviews with lawyers and qualitative content analyses of attorney participation in parole recordings from one state, the study illustrates how attorney assistance provides an important due process protection in the highly discretionary context of parole. The analysis of attorney representation is situated in the history of how they became prominent in the criminal legal system, and how their assistance has been viewed as vital in the parole process. Prior criminological and legal research relates the impact a lawyer can have by preparing a juvenile lifer candidate to present a suitable narrative for release, one that relates their diminished criminal culpability and rehabilitative efforts to prepare for life beyond prison. The work will be relevant to students, academics, and policy makers, particularly for state parole boards, public defender agencies, and legislatures. While the analysis is based on the experience of one state, the findings are generalizable to other states and countries that similarly conduct parole board hearings for not just their juvenile populations but also adults.

The SAGE Handbook of Punishment and Society

Download The SAGE Handbook of Punishment and Society PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : SAGE
ISBN 13 : 1446266001
Total Pages : 521 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (462 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The SAGE Handbook of Punishment and Society by : Jonathan Simon

Download or read book The SAGE Handbook of Punishment and Society written by Jonathan Simon and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2012-09-18 with total page 521 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The project of interpreting contemporary forms of punishment means exploring the social, political, economic, and historical conditions in the society in which those forms arise. The SAGE Handbook of Punishment and Society draws together this disparate and expansive field of punishment and society into one compelling new volume. Headed by two of the leading scholars in the field, Jonathan Simon and Richard Sparks have crafted a comprehensive and definitive resource that illuminates some of the key themes in this complex area - from historical and prospective issues to penal trends and related contributions through theory, literature and philosophy. Incorporating a stellar and international line-up of contributors the book addresses issues such as: capital punishment, the civilising process, gender, diversity, inequality, power, human rights and neoliberalism. This engaging, vibrantly written collection will be captivating reading for academics and researchers in criminology, penology, criminal justice, sociology, cultural studies, philosophy and politics.