Prison Violence

With a special emphasis on comparisons of violence among incarcerated populations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Prison Violence explores the various systems that exist for combating the problem, whilst also considering public perceptions of offenders and punishment, as influenced by media and coverage of high-profile cases. Providing a comprehensive analysis of prison violence on national and international levels, this book examines the extent of the problem, theoretical understandings of the issue and concrete solutions designed to prevent and handle such violence.

Kristine Levan is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Idaho, USA.

1. An introduction to prisons, punishment and prison violence 2. Prison, by the numbers 3. Prisons and prison violence in other countries 4. Prison violence: explanations and theoretical underpinnings 5. The effects of prison violence 6. Challenges to understanding the problem 7. What is being done? 8. The long road ahead: the future of prison violence References Index.