Transitions Towards Prison Abolition

• In Event: Convict Criminology 2: Prisons and Reentry

Abstract

What are some of the key elements of policies and laws creating movements away from inflicting violence and harm upon prisoners, to systems directed at peaceful reintegration and restoration of offenders to their communities? This research examines what nations have done to create criminal justice systems that are less reliant or do not rely upon retributive punishment within their systems or prisons to serve societal criminal justice needs. We attempt to identify differing key ideological foundations, laws, and policies that can shift criminal justice systems into more humane, less expensive, and more effective practices and policies than the retributive practices underlying mass incarceration in the United States.

Authors

• Michael Lenza, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

• Grant Tietjen, St. Ambrose University