Against Imprisonment: An Anthology of Abolitionist EssaysA collection of writings by Dr David Scott which build on his work teaching criminology for over 20 years. Against Imprisonment includes topics such as ‘The Changing Face of the Prison’, justifications of punishment, prison violence and the shortcomings of prisons and mega-prisons. Very much against the current political obsession with increasing incarceration this book is a wake-up call for all those who feel the use of imprisonment is failing to achieve a reduction in crime. Provides a compelling analysis of the failings of imprisonment. Sheds new light on this pressing topic. Explains why prisons do not work for most offenders. From the Foreword ‘Scott systematically dismantles widely-accepted justifications for punishment on ethical, political, philosophical and practical grounds, forcefully demonstrating that the only clear purpose of imprisonment is the infliction of pain and suffering on all those who come into contact with the prison place, whether as detainees or staff. He provides us with fascinating glimpses…into what he describes as “modern-day cathedrals of pain”. Turning the utopian myth that “prison works” on its head, he invites us to imagine “real utopian” non-penal alternatives to punishment that respect human dignity and deliver genuine social justice.'— Emma Bell |
Contents
| vi | |
| viii | |
| ix | |
| 13 | |
| 21 | |
Walking Among the Graves of the Living | 41 |
Escaping the Logic of Crime | 65 |
Justifications of Punishment and Questions of Penal Legitimacy | 83 |
Contesting the Spirit of Death | 163 |
Saying NO to the Megaprison | 185 |
Unequalled in Pain | 203 |
Bibliography | 231 |
| 255 | |
The Maze Prison | 266 |
Transgender Behind Prison Walls | 268 |
Prison on Trial | 271 |
The Changing Face of the Prison | 107 |
Problematising Commonsense Understandings of Prison Violence | 139 |
Common terms and phrases
abolitionism abolitionist aims of imprisonment alternative assaults behaviour blame Capitalist chapter Cohen considered context criminal law criminal process custody Dean Saunders deaths in prison dehumanising deterrence England and Wales focus focussed Folk Devil Greater Manchester harm highlight HM Prison Service HMCIP HMP Frankland HMP Hindley Hulsman human rights ibid infliction INQUEST interventions Journal entry Justice Secretary last judgement legitimacy less eligibility logic of crime Mathiesen means mega-prison moral number of prison offenders organisation pain penal abolitionists penal incarceration penal policy political prison officers prison place prison population Prison Safety Prison Service prison staff prisoner violence problematic promoting punishment punitive radical recognise regimes rehabilitation relationships responsibility restorative justice Safety and Reform Scott and Codd self-harm self-inflicted deaths sentence social death social justice society spirit of death suffering tion transgender victim welfare whilst White Paper Wigan Wigan Borough Woolf wrongdoing