ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part explores the impact of prison settings on the lives of incarcerated individuals and correctional officers, as well as on correctional treatment. It then explores the operationalization of the various philosophies of punishment through the evolution of prison architectural designs. The part also examines a socio-ecological approach to jails and prisons, where equal attention is given to the social and environmental well-being of incarcerated individuals. It provides a clear example of the failure of prisons to provide effective means for individuals to transition successfully into society. The part illuminates issues that reentrants are confronted with during the transition to communities dichotomously: that employment in prison settings does not translate the same in community settings and that structural factors such as race, education, and previous employment result in important variations in the reintegration success of justice-involved individuals.
