Role of Prison in Europe

Tom Vander Beken is Professor at the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy at Ghent University, Belgium. He conducts research on criminal justice issues with a particular focus on prisons and prison systems.

“This book will probably be read in different ways by historical and contemporary criminologists. As the combination of title and subtitle suggests, it deals both with today’s prisons and with the eighteenth-century visitor of carceral institutions, John Howard. … In sum: this is a book … interesting for criminologists.” (Pieter Spierenburg, Rutgers University, clcjbooks.rutgers.edu, March, 2017)“The book, then, is part travelogue, part study in comparative penal policy, with the author switching skilfully between the two … . The Role of Prison in Europe constitutes a stimulating, insightful and highly readable series of reflections on recent and future directions in European penal policy.” (Neil Davie, The HowardJournal of Crime and Justice, Vol. 58 (1), March, 2019)

• Introduction.- Prologue.- Chapter 1. The Jailer's Salary.- Chapter 2. The Northern Star.- Chapter 3. The Paradox of Control.- Chapter 4. Words Ring Hollow.- Chapter 5. Dreams of Beccaria.- Chapter 6. Eurovision Europrisons?.- Epilogue.