The authors write this book from personal knowledge of lifers and many years experience working closely with them within the prison system - making "Murderers and Life Imprisonment" not just a highly authoritative account but also one containing vivid, often compelling illustrations. There is a certain futility in some of the present arrangements and the authors do not shrink from making a number of suggestions for improvements under the headings containment, treatment, public safety and risk.The range of this major work is wide: from an examination of 'Who Are the Lifers?' (including a UK/USA comparison), lifer profiles, 'The Structure of a Life Sentence' and 'The Psychology of the Murderer', the book moves on to deal with 'Containment and Treatment', 'Discretionary Lifer Panels' and a range of ethical, Human Rights and associated issues. There are special contributions by David Wilson on 'Delusions of Innocence' and Roland Woodward on 'Lifer Risk Assessment' (including what it is, how it is done and a critical examination of clinical and other methods). The work is further enhanced by case studies (anonymised) based on actual case histories.
