Title

American penology: Words, deeds, and consequences

Abstract

A primary argument underlying this paper is that it is possible to capture a particular theory or conceptual rationale in the development of a penal program strategy. Further, it is possible to implement the program in a way that corresponds to both the program strategy and theory and then to evaluate the program to determine the adequacy of both the program strategy and the theory upon which it is based. The history of U.S. penal reform does not illustrate this potential, however. Rather, U.S. penal reforms have been implemented without evaluation and have resulted in a pattern of unintended consequences, most notably increased social control and an associated undermining of democratic rights and individual freedoms, without any corresponding decline in crime. These trends and outcomes are documented in order to draw penal program and evaluation policy implications for the U.S. and their ever expanding penal complex and the Czech Republic in their ongoing efforts to implement a penal system consistent with their newly emerging democratic society. © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Publication Date

1-1-1997

Publication Title

Crime, Law and Social Change

Volume

28

Issue

3-4

Number of Pages

269-286

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1008233500140

Socpus ID

22044453782 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/22044453782

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