The Prison System: The True Costs of Prisons (PDF)

Everyone has a stake in the functioning and effectiveness of the prison system—even if you've never committed a crime or been the victim of one. The prison system is an integral part of how society functions—punishing criminals, rehabilitating inmates, and protecting the public.The United States leads the world in incarceration with the largest number of its citizens behind bars. The hugeness of the U.S. prison system raises important issues we all need to consider. This book explores the complex social, economic, and moral costs that inevitably attend a system of mass-imprisonment. The True Costs of Prison teaches readers not only about the prisoners but also the families and communities they leave behind and to which most will return after serving their sentences. Keeping the public safe from criminals is more complicated than simply locking them up.PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Each title in this series contains a foreword from the Associate Dean of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, color photos throughout, charts, and back matter that includes an index and further resource lists of books and Internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series, encouraging library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content-rich nonfiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers can reference back to the definitions—building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Educational Videos provide links via QR codes to online video content that gives a multimedia dimension to the topics. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.