. . the most authoritative & sophisticated textbook on the penal system of England & Wales. It is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the causes character & consequences of the current penal crisis. David Downes Mannheim Centre of Criminology London School of Economics. What do you look for in a good textbook ? You would expect it to be as up-to-date as possible. To be presented in a clear & accessible style. To cover the issues comprehensively. The Penal System delivers in all of these ways. Mick Cavadino & Jim Dignan write with passion & authority which makes for an immensely readable book. If there is such a thing as an ideal textbook then this is it. George Mair Professor in Criminal Justice Liverpool John Moores University.!remains the most comprehensive up-to-date & readable text on the subject. Yvonne Jewkes Reader in Criminology The Open University The perfect mix of the theoretical & the practical Cavadino & Dignans updated book is the smartest cutting-edge textbook available on the crucial subject of penology. Shadd Maruna Queens University Belfast!..the book remains an essential resource for students in criminology & criminal justice. The authors are hugely effective in delivering a comprehensive guide to criminal justice issues in the 21st century. Students will also find the self-study guide to electronic sources immensely helpful. Loraine Gelsthorpe University of Cambridge. The revised & updated edition of this bestselling textbook is the most integrated & authoritative overview of the penal system available. The Penal System provides a complete introduction to all aspects of punishment within the wider context of the criminal justice system. It covers all the key theories & topics that a student of criminology or criminal justice needs to know about in their course. The new edition
Features: Coverage of the deepening penal crisis " New material on restorative justice " Discussion of recent theoretical developments " An overview of changes in the prison & probation services (NOMS) " Critical analysis of recent developments in criminal justice policy " A glossary of key terms & abbreviations " An extended self-study guide to internet resources " A companion website to keep students & teachers up-to-date with relevant legislation Building on the strengths of the third edition The Penal System remains the most comprehensive analysis of theory research & policy in the area. Praise for previous editions: " There are few must buy books for students of criminology & criminal justice but since its first edition in 1992 The Penal System: An Introduction has been one of them. For accuracy & scope as well as its remarkable combination of scholarly rigour & readability the book has no equal & it has only got better through successive editions." David Smith Professor of Criminology Lancaster University." For more than ten years Cavadino & Dignan have provided by far the best policy relevant & theoretically informed account of the British penal system. This new edition has only the high standards of its predecessors to beat. Cavadino & Dignan may not have managed to change the penal system for the better with their book but no one has delivered a more accessible or intelligent account of why it is so hard to reform." Mike Nellis Professor of Criminal & Community Justice University of Strathclyde"