Recent Book: Reports of an Inquiry by H.M. Chief Inspector of Prisons into Security Arrangements at H.M. Prison, Maze
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8405700415 |
| Date | 01 October 1984 |
| Published date | 01 October 1984 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
RECENT BOOKS
Edited by: DAVID FINKELHOR, RICHARD GELLES, GERALD T.
HOTALING and MURRAY A. STRAUSS. The Dark Side of Families -
Current Family Violence Research.
London: Sage Publications.
Family violence isa complex and perplexing problem, with intra-family conflict
and abuse constituting the most obscure area of violence.This book (384pages)
offers a succinct insight into the current research studies and controversies of the
subject. It presents 23 separate, but inter-related, papers by contributors who are
leading authorities in their own disciplines.
It
is clear that over the last decade in
the United States of America the issues of family violence. have been studied by
many disciplines. The book attempts to bring together an interdisciplinary
approach to the broad spectrum of issues involved, e.g. child abuse (physical and
sexual), wife assault and the relatively new research area of marital rape. The book
is based upon papers presented at the National Conference for Family Violence
Researchers in Durham, New Hampshire in 1981. This does not detract from its
value to professionals in Great Britain. The empirical research, theoretical concepts
and clinical work included make it the most pertinent basic reader in this subject
area. DELLA M. CANNINGS, B.Sc.
JAMES HENNESSY: Reports of an Inquiry by H.M. Chief Inspector of Prisons
into security arrangements at H.M. Prison, Maze.
London: Northern Ireland Office.£6.
The Escape from the Maze Prison on Sunday, September 25,1983, was the most
serious escape in the recent history of the UK Prison Service.
Thirty-five prisoners penetrated two security gates without being discovered and
then reached the main perimeter without the alarm being raised. In the escape 24
prison officers guarding the prisoners were overpowered.
One of the fundamental questions raised by the escape was how the five guns
were smuggled into the prison and by whom.
Sir James Hennessy and his staff of 13spent 41
/2weeks completing their
comprehensive report which makes compelling reading despite the deletions for
security purposes. NICOLA LAKIN
LAWRENCE F. TRAVIS III, MARTIN D. SCHW ARTZ and
TODD
R. CLEAR:
Corrections - An Issues Approach.
Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing. $15.95.
The second edition of this book continues, refines and extends the controversial
issues introduced in the first. The basic questions about the American correctional
system, community supervision, the purposes and utility of prisons, community
supervision, and the treatment of offenders, are all explored in a debate format.
Professor Zimbardo's paper on "The Pathology of Imprisonment" continues to
stimulate and should be compulsory reading for all involved with prisons.
The final chapter, which deals with "Emerging Issues", draws attention to the
fact that most issuesare in fact just re-emerging. The death penalty, prisoners'
rights, costs of imprisonment, manpower, the impact of technology, standards and
changes in theory, have all been around in one shape or another for many years
there are lessons to be learned from the US experience and this isa useful pointer.
KEN RUSSELL
402 October /984
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