The Oxford Handbook on Prisons and Imprisonment provides a rich source of information on institutional corrections around the world, covering the most critical issues facing both inmates and prison staff. The contributors offer theoretically informed and critical discussions of these issues that facilitate more objective and realistic assessments of related problems and their possible solutions. The handbook is the first original volume on prisons and prisoners to cover topics relevant to both the social and behavioral sciences with equal depth paid to each area. Focusing on the impact of these issues on the philosophies of incarceration (retribution, general and specific deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation) is also unique to a single volume, providing a larger picture of their implications. Included are updated discussions of the always popular topics such as conditions of confinement and prisoner subcultures and topics that have taken or are destined to take greater priority in the field such as inmate victimization, special offender populations, prison programs, prisoner re-entry, and privatization. The handbook is divided into six sections corresponding to topic areas identified as major focal points of discussion and research in the field. As such, it provides a single source that bridges social and behavioral science perspectives, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of these topics while providing academics with a knowledge base that will more effectively inform their own research. For practitioners, particularly those in the treatment sector, the book provides an excellent overview of best program practices that are empirically based and research-driven