Travis C. Pratt

In Addicted to Incarceration, author Travis C. Pratt uses an evidence-based approach to explore the consequences of what he terms America′s "addiction to incarceration." Highlighting the scope of the issue, the nature of the political discussions surrounding criminal justice policy in general and corrections policy in particular, and the complex social cost of incarceration, this book takes an incisive look at the approach to corrections in the United States. The Second Edition demonstrates that the United States′ addiction to incarceration has been fueled by American citizens′ opinions about crime and punishment, the use of incarceration as a means of social control, and perhaps most important, by policies legitimized by faulty information. Analyzing crime policies as they relate to crime rates and society′s ability to both lower the crime rate and address the role of incarceration in preventing future crime, this book shows students how ineffective the rush to incarcerate has been in the past and offers recommendations and insights to navigate this significant problem going forward.

Corrections Policy and the Politics of Misinformation in the United States

Addicted to Incarceration

Cheryl Lero Jonson

A Criminologist’s Life: Essays in Honor of the Criminological Legacy of Francis T. Cullen honors the vast scholarly contributions of Francis T. "Frank" Cullen as well as the immeasurable influence that he has had on the field for over 40 years. With over 500 publications to his name and more than 67,000 citations to his work, Frank Cullen has left an indelible mark on the fields of criminology and criminal justice. Although best known for his work on rehabilitation and criminological theory, Frank also has profusely published in and shaped the areas of white-collar crime, the use of meta-analytic techniques to organize knowledge, the sexual victimization of college women, and public opinion on crime and punishment. However, Frank’s legacy on the field is not limited to his scholarly contributions: He has served as a mentor to countless students, colleagues, and others in the field, helping support and guide the next generation of scholars. Thus, the current volume is organized to recognize both his scholarly work and mentoring, as well as to provide an opportunity for Frank to reflect on his career "in his own words." The result is a collection of essays from Frank’s former students, colleagues, and friends written to pay homage to the more than 40 years of work he has done to advance criminological knowledge and shape the field.

Essays in Honor of the Criminological Legacy of Francis T. Cullen

A Criminologist’s Life

In Addicted to Incarceration, author Travis C. Pratt uses an evidence-based approach to explore the consequences of what he terms America's "addiction to incarceration." Highlighting the scope of the issue, the nature of the political discussions surrounding criminal justice policy in general and corrections policy in particular, and the complex social cost of incarceration, this book takes an incisive look at the approach to corrections in the United States. The Second Edition demonstrates that the United States' addiction to incarceration has been fueled by American citizens' opinions about crime and punishment, the effectiveness of incarceration as a means of social control, and perhaps most important, by policies legitimized by faulty information. Analyzing crime policies as they relate to crime rates and society's ability to both lower the crime rate and address the role of incarceration in preventing future crime, the book shows students how ineffective the rush to incarcerate has been in the last decade and offers recommendations and insights to navigate this significant problem going forward.

In Addicted to Incarceration, author Travis Pratt uses an evidence-based approach to explore the consequences of what he terms America's "addiction to incarceration," highlighting the scope of the problem, the nature of the political discussions surrounding criminal justice policy in general and corrections policy in particular, and the social cost of incarceration. Pratt demonstrates that the United States' addiction to incarceration has been fueled by American citizens' opinions about crime and punishment, the effectiveness of incarceration as a means of social control, and perhaps most important, by policies legitimized by faulty information (e.g.,fear of crime is objectively linked to victimization, petty offenders mature into violent predators, and persistent offending can be accurately predicted over the life course). Analyzing crime policies as they relate to crime rates and U.S. society's ability to both lower the crime rate and address the role of incarceration in preventing future crime, the book shows students how ineffective our rush to incarcerate has been in the last decade, as well as offering recommendations and insights into the future of this problem. Features Real world examples that put a human face on the issues open each chapter Race, ethnicity, and gender issues underlie all discussions and address key aspects of incarceration rates and crime trends The social costs of incarceration are explored, including the heightened inmate risk of personal victimization, incarceration's effect as a barrier to successful offender reintegration into society, and its role in exacerbating existing racial inequalities The final chapter contains conclusions and recommendations for future policy makers Written in an informal and accessible style, Addicted to Incarceration is appropriate for criminal justice policy or corrections courses at the undergraduate level and can also be used as a supplementary text in introductory criminal justice, criminology, and critical issues in criminal justice courses.

Travis C. Pratt

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