Daniel P. Mears is the Mark C. Stafford Professor of Criminology in the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He conducts research on crime causation and social programs and policies, focusing on juvenile and criminal justice and crime prevention and intervention strategies. As a Principal Investigator or lead researcher, he has conducted studies funded by such federal agencies as the National Council on Disability, National Institute of Justice, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and state agencies. His views have been covered in media outlets, including ABC News, Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post, among others. His research has consistently appeared in top-tier journals in the field. He is the author of American Criminal Justice Policy (Cambridge University Press), which received the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Outstanding Book Award.Dr. Joshua C. Cochran is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida′s Department of Criminology.  His research focuses on prison experiences, prisoner reentry, and inequalities that emerge within these areas.  He has collaborated with Dr. Mears on a range of studies, including recently two chapters on prisons and prisoner reentry, one for an edited volume published by Springer and the other for an edited volume to be published by Oxford University Press.  Recently, he was awarded the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Corrections and Sentencing Dissertation Award for his Ph.D. thesis focused on incarceration and the implications of inmate social ties.  His recent work has appeared in leading criminology journals including Criminology, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, and Justice Quarterly.

"Mass imprisonment and mass prisoner reentry are two faces of the same coin.  In a comprehensive and penetrating analysis, Daniel Mears and Joshua Cochran unravel the causes of this pressing problem, detail the challenges confronting released prisoners, and provide an evidence-based blueprint for successfully reintegrating offenders into the community.  Scholarly yet accessible, this volume is essential reading—whether by academics or students—for anyone wishing to understand the chief policy issue facing American corrections."

• Chapter 1: IntroductionMass Incarceration and ReentryThe Goals of This BookCriminological “Versus” Criminal Justice Theory and ResearchTerminology and ScopeOrganization of the BookChapter 2: Historical Trends in Corrections and Reentry Policy and PracticeTrends in Correctional Populations: The Era of Mass CorrectionsTrends in Reentry Policy and PracticeThe Theory, or Causal Logic, of the Punitive Turn in Sanctioning Convicted FelonsImplications of Historical Trends in Incarceration and Reentry Policy and PracticeConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 3: The Causes of Mass Incarceration and Thus Mass ReentryCausal Complexity in Understanding the Punitive TurnCause 1: Not CrimeCause 2: Public Demand for Increased Punitive SanctioningCause 3: Conservatism, Race, Moral Panics, and the Politicization of CrimeCause 4: Increased Belief in the Idea That Individual Responsibility Matters MostCause 5: Exaggerated Claims for IncarcerationCause 6: Discounting Effectiveness of Non-Incarcerative SanctionsCause 7: Inadequate Research Documenting the Need for Specific Types of SanctionsCause 8: EconomicsCause 9. Systems-Level Forces and DynamicsCausal Complexity RevisitedConclusion, or Why Understanding the Punitive Turn Is Relevant for Reentry PolicyDiscussion QuestionsChapter 4: Profile of the Inmate PopulationWhy Inmate and Ex-Prisoner Characteristics MatterInmate and Ex-Prisoner CharacteristicsThe “Typical Inmate” ProfileWhy Inmate Profiles Change Over TimeConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 5: The Prison ExperienceWhy What Happens in Prison Is Relevant for Understanding ReentryThe Implications of In-Prison Crime and MisconductPrison Experiences that May Have Implications for Prisoner ReentryHow Inmates Perceive Themselves and the Prison Experience and Why It MattersThe (Lack of) Evidence on the Effectiveness of IncarcerationConcepts of What the Prison Experience Should BeMaking Greater Accountability HappenConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 6: The Reentry Experience and Reentry ChallengesThe Reentry Process and ExperienceThe Logic of “Invisible” Punishments and Their ConsequencesSpecific Challenges During ReentryImplications of Reentry Challenges for Ex-Prisoners and Families and CommunitiesConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 7: Recidivism and Risk PredictionThe Atheoretical Foundation of Mass IncarcerationThe A Priori, Theoretically Predictable Consequences of IncarcerationRecidivism Rates—A Depressing ProblemRisk Prediction ApproachesRisk Prediction SuccessThe Challenges of Risk PredictionApproaches to Improve Risk PredictionShifting the Focus of Risk PredictionConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 8: Diverse Inmate Populations and ReentryThe Diversity of the Inmate and Ex-Prisoner Population and Why It MattersThe Youngest Ex-PrisonersFemale Ex-PrisonersRacial and Ethnic Minority Ex-PrisonersOther Groups of Ex-PrisonersSuper-Maximum Security Ex-PrisonersDrug-Abusing Ex-PrisonersMentally Ill or Learning Disabled Ex-PrisonersStill Other Groups of Ex-PrisonersRevisiting Sanctioning and ReentryConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 9: Reentry Policy and What Works to Improve Reentry OutcomesThe Ineffectiveness of Incarceration in Improving Public Safety or Other OutcomesThe Ineffectiveness of Incarceration Due to Collateral ConsequencesCorrections Efforts Frequently Rest on Weak Theoretical and Empirical GroundsMinimal Evaluation of Most Reentry Policies, Programs, and PracticesPre-Prison, In-Prison, and Postrelease Approaches to Successful ReentryGeneral Guidelines and Strategies for Improving ReentryThe Importance of Evidence of Cost-Efficiency, Not Just ImpactsThe Need for an Offender, Victim, and Community Justice SystemReentry Lessons and Convicted Felons Who Don’t Go to PrisonThe Importance of Government Accountability and Evidence-Based PracticeConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 10: Conclusion

Daniel P. Mears is the Mark C. Stafford Professor of Criminology in the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He conducts research on crime causation and social programs and policies, focusing on juvenile and criminal justice and crime prevention and intervention strategies. As a Principal Investigator or lead researcher, he has conducted studies funded by such federal agencies as the National Council on Disability, National Institute of Justice, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and state agencies. His views have been covered in media outlets, including ABC News, Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post, among others. His research has consistently appeared in top-tier journals in the field. He is the author of American Criminal Justice Policy (Cambridge University Press), which received the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Outstanding Book Award.Dr. Joshua C. Cochran is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida′s Department of Criminology.  His research focuses on prison experiences, prisoner reentry, and inequalities that emerge within these areas.  He has collaborated with Dr. Mears on a range of studies, including recently two chapters on prisons and prisoner reentry, one for an edited volume published by Springer and the other for an edited volume to be published by Oxford University Press.  Recently, he was awarded the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Corrections and Sentencing Dissertation Award for his Ph.D. thesis focused on incarceration and the implications of inmate social ties.  His recent work has appeared in leading criminology journals including Criminology, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, and Justice Quarterly.

"Mass imprisonment and mass prisoner reentry are two faces of the same coin.  In a comprehensive and penetrating analysis, Daniel Mears and Joshua Cochran unravel the causes of this pressing problem, detail the challenges confronting released prisoners, and provide an evidence-based blueprint for successfully reintegrating offenders into the community.  Scholarly yet accessible, this volume is essential reading—whether by academics or students—for anyone wishing to understand the chief policy issue facing American corrections."

• Chapter 1: IntroductionMass Incarceration and ReentryThe Goals of This BookCriminological “Versus” Criminal Justice Theory and ResearchTerminology and ScopeOrganization of the BookChapter 2: Historical Trends in Corrections and Reentry Policy and PracticeTrends in Correctional Populations: The Era of Mass CorrectionsTrends in Reentry Policy and PracticeThe Theory, or Causal Logic, of the Punitive Turn in Sanctioning Convicted FelonsImplications of Historical Trends in Incarceration and Reentry Policy and PracticeConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 3: The Causes of Mass Incarceration and Thus Mass ReentryCausal Complexity in Understanding the Punitive TurnCause 1: Not CrimeCause 2: Public Demand for Increased Punitive SanctioningCause 3: Conservatism, Race, Moral Panics, and the Politicization of CrimeCause 4: Increased Belief in the Idea That Individual Responsibility Matters MostCause 5: Exaggerated Claims for IncarcerationCause 6: Discounting Effectiveness of Non-Incarcerative SanctionsCause 7: Inadequate Research Documenting the Need for Specific Types of SanctionsCause 8: EconomicsCause 9. Systems-Level Forces and DynamicsCausal Complexity RevisitedConclusion, or Why Understanding the Punitive Turn Is Relevant for Reentry PolicyDiscussion QuestionsChapter 4: Profile of the Inmate PopulationWhy Inmate and Ex-Prisoner Characteristics MatterInmate and Ex-Prisoner CharacteristicsThe “Typical Inmate” ProfileWhy Inmate Profiles Change Over TimeConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 5: The Prison ExperienceWhy What Happens in Prison Is Relevant for Understanding ReentryThe Implications of In-Prison Crime and MisconductPrison Experiences that May Have Implications for Prisoner ReentryHow Inmates Perceive Themselves and the Prison Experience and Why It MattersThe (Lack of) Evidence on the Effectiveness of IncarcerationConcepts of What the Prison Experience Should BeMaking Greater Accountability HappenConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 6: The Reentry Experience and Reentry ChallengesThe Reentry Process and ExperienceThe Logic of “Invisible” Punishments and Their ConsequencesSpecific Challenges During ReentryImplications of Reentry Challenges for Ex-Prisoners and Families and CommunitiesConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 7: Recidivism and Risk PredictionThe Atheoretical Foundation of Mass IncarcerationThe A Priori, Theoretically Predictable Consequences of IncarcerationRecidivism Rates—A Depressing ProblemRisk Prediction ApproachesRisk Prediction SuccessThe Challenges of Risk PredictionApproaches to Improve Risk PredictionShifting the Focus of Risk PredictionConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 8: Diverse Inmate Populations and ReentryThe Diversity of the Inmate and Ex-Prisoner Population and Why It MattersThe Youngest Ex-PrisonersFemale Ex-PrisonersRacial and Ethnic Minority Ex-PrisonersOther Groups of Ex-PrisonersSuper-Maximum Security Ex-PrisonersDrug-Abusing Ex-PrisonersMentally Ill or Learning Disabled Ex-PrisonersStill Other Groups of Ex-PrisonersRevisiting Sanctioning and ReentryConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 9: Reentry Policy and What Works to Improve Reentry OutcomesThe Ineffectiveness of Incarceration in Improving Public Safety or Other OutcomesThe Ineffectiveness of Incarceration Due to Collateral ConsequencesCorrections Efforts Frequently Rest on Weak Theoretical and Empirical GroundsMinimal Evaluation of Most Reentry Policies, Programs, and PracticesPre-Prison, In-Prison, and Postrelease Approaches to Successful ReentryGeneral Guidelines and Strategies for Improving ReentryThe Importance of Evidence of Cost-Efficiency, Not Just ImpactsThe Need for an Offender, Victim, and Community Justice SystemReentry Lessons and Convicted Felons Who Don’t Go to PrisonThe Importance of Government Accountability and Evidence-Based PracticeConclusionDiscussion QuestionsChapter 10: Conclusion