ABSTRACT
The issue of prison confinement has been a volatile one for a long time. This chapter aims to evaluate the various perspectives on prison confinement, and examines the major justifications for incarceration and the related empirical evidence. It deals with the psychological effects of long-term prison confinement and examine the variables that influence reactions to prison confinement, such as the characteristics of inmates, the physical environment, and the type of institution. Clinical programs could be designed for sex offenders and those suffering from various psychological problems. Programs designed to deal with the educational and job-skill deficiencies of many inmates might increase their chances of successful adjustment to society upon release from prison. The elevated indications of stress in the beginning of the prison term may reflect emotional reactions to the disruption of a prior lifestyle, family separation, and the uncertainties involved in being a resident in a new environment.
