Book Review: Ironies of Imprisonment
| Author | Len Cheston |
| Published date | 01 September 2005 |
| Date | 01 September 2005 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0264550505055148 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Ironies of Imprisonment
Michael Welch
Sage Publications, 2005; pp 264, £27.00
ISBN 1–7619–3059–0
The book sets out to examine a series of themes around
imprisonment in the United States from a critical penology
perspective. The author tries to challenge the ideology of
mass incarceration prevalent in the USA. The ironies, high-
lighted in the title, are the inconsistencies and contradic-
tions that are taking place in prisons. Critical penology is
defined as a radical criminology perspective.
The book is a range of essays covering the history of the penitentiary, what is
critical penology, drugs, violence in prisons, health care, capital punishment,
‘punitive profit’ and the war on terror. The essays are not a comprehensive study
of US prisons, more a series of themes selected by the author. In many places the
book covers already familiar ground, for example, the high rate of imprisonment
of young black and hispanic men. The book explores the impact of the ‘three
strikes and you are out’ policy that has had such an impact upon prison numbers
that some states are looking to release prisoners early to reduce the tax burden.
Other chapters explore some areas that are rarely commented upon. The war
on terror chapter looks at the use of imprisonment for men with no immigration
status. This seems to mirror the ‘war on drugs’ with the imprisonment of young
black men. The author states that there have been large numbers of court cases
involving minor offences but few ‘big fish’ have been prosecuted.
In the drugs chapter, there is an interesting analysis of imprisonment rates for
different drug users. Cocaine users who are predominantly white get shorter prison
sentences than black offenders convicted of crack offences.
The book mixes an evaluation of the evidence with case studies, and at times it
can read as if an argument is based around one case study. It is overwhelmingly
critical in its views on imprisonment and in my view lacks a more balanced perspec-
tive. Rehabilitation work either in prison or on release barely gets a mention.
Is there anything for a UK audience? Much of the book covers ground already
familiar to those following the US scene. There are a few examples of interest to
303
Probation Journal
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
Copyright © 2005 NAPO Vol 52(3): 303–311
DOI: 10.1177/0264550505055148
www.napo.org.uk
www.sagepublications.com
Reviews
08_055148_Reviews (JB-D) 27/7/05 3:29 pm Page 303
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