Book Review: prisons, punishment and the pursuit of security

Nation states around the globe are struggling with increasing concerns over human and global insecurity. Within this climate crime and criminal justice policies in many countries have become key areas of political focus, with the prison poised to play an important role in security strategies. This book problematises the persistent use of prisons and punishment and their role in pursuing higher levels of human security. Drawing on extensive, qualitative research in men’s long-term, maximum-security prisons in England, questions are raised about the means by which security is pursued. Johannes Wheeldon finds an important contribution to critical criminology and prison ethnography.