Comparative sociologists mostly ignore wide differences in criminality and incarceration rates among modern western societies; with notable exceptions, students of the prison take scant notice of research comparing political economies, welfare regimes, and patterns of inequality. This article outlines an opportunity structures model of imprisonment that bridges this gap by treating incarceratio...

Though we have abolished the death penalty, we have done next to nothing about developing a rational alternative method for dealing with the crime of murder. Life imprisonment, as such, is no better than a makeshift substitute, for it is based on precisely the same legal rationale: namely, that because murderers are, by definition, extremely culpable and extremely dangerous, they deserve to be ...

Homelessness issue among former prisoners in Malaysia upon their release is of great concern. Hence, this study aimed to identify the predominant factors influencing homelessness Malaysia. Imprisonment usually assumed be a negative life event and can act as hindrance for prisoner successfully integrate after being freed from prison. past criminal records are biggest contributors becoming homele...

Crime has high social costs. The criminal justice system is costly, imprisonments have negative effects on labor force participation, and the pain for victims is significant for most types of crime. Criminal behavior is related to marginal costs and marginal utility that go beyond deterrence and punishment. Economic theory suggests that some policies, for example improved labor market opportuni...