The True Costs of Prisons

Everyone has a stake in the functioning and effectiveness of the prison system-even if you've never committed a crime or been the victim of one. The prison system is an integral part of how society functions-punishing criminals, rehabilitating inmates, and protecting the public. The United States leads the world in incarceration with the largest number of its citizens behind bars. The hugeness of the U.S. prison system raises important issues we all need to consider. This book explores the complex social, economic, and moral costs that inevitably attend a system of mass-imprisonment. The True Costs of Prison teaches readers not only about the prisoners but also the families and communities they leave behind and to which most will return after serving their sentences. Keeping the public safe from criminals is more complicated than simply locking them up.