Prisons of the World - Paperback

by Andrew Coyle (Author)

How do governments and societies use prison to respond to underlying and fundamental social, economic and political issues? Using data on world imprisonment and numerous international examples from his personal experience, Coyle, a prison practitioner, academic and international expert, discusses the failings of prison around the world. Acknowledging the influence of external agencies, such as the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and court interventions in the use of solitary confinement, he offers some positive pointers for the future and how there might be a better distribution of resources between criminal justice and social justice by an application of the principles of Justice Reinvestment.

Author Biography

Andrew Coyle is Emeritus Professor of Prison Studies at the University of London. Following a distinguished career as a prison governor he became founding Director of the International Centre for Prison Studies in King's College London and has spent many years advising national governments and international agencies on prison related issues in over 70 countries.