Penal Philosophy and the Policy of Punishment: What Really Stands in the Way of Prison Abolition

• In Event: Responses to Crime and Justice

Abstract

This paper examines the concept of penal philosophy and policies as a function of historic and current innate immoral needs for individuals in power, and their representative states, to inflict injury on others. The paper reviews punishment from a historic perspective, and draws policy parallels to those in current power, to analyze obstacles that stand in the way of true prison abolition. The paper draws upon critical perspectives to place the concepts of prison and punishment as weapons of the ruling class to oppress others, while also drawing upon psycho-social theories to explain the need for those in power to hurt others.

Author

• William Calathes, New Jersey City University