Despite the dire forecasts of others who had themselves edited books, we proceeded with the project of an edited volume on the American prison, although with more than a little trepidation. We had heard the horror stories of authors turning in their chapters months or years late or never at all, of publishers delaying publication dates, of volumes that read more like patchwork quilts than finely loomed cloth. As if to prove the others wrong, our experience in editing this volume has been mar velous, and we think the volume reflects this. Most likely, the success of our experience and of the volume stems from two elements: first, the professionalism and commitment of the authors themselves; and second, the fact that early in the life of this volume, most of the authors convened for a conference to critique and coordinate the chapters. This book brings together an illustrious group of criminologists and correctional scholars who wrote chapters explicitly for this volume. Co hesiveness was furthered by the charge we gave to each author to (1) present the major issues, (2) review the empirical research, and (3) dis cuss the implications of this work for present and future correctional policy. The goal of this project was to examine the major correctional issues facing prison systems. The chapters scrutinize the issues from the perspective of the system and the individual, from theory to practical and daily management problems, from legal to psychological concerns."

Boot camps have developed over the past two decades into a program that incorporates a military regimen to create a structured environment. While some critics of this method of corrections suggest that the confrontational nature of the program is antithetical to treatment, authors Doris Layton MacKenzie and Gaylene Styve Armstrong present research knowledge and personal discussions with community leaders that offer insight into both the strengths and weaknesses of this controversial form of corrections. Correctional Boot Camps: Military Basic Training or a Model for Corrections? provides the most up-to-date assessment of the major perspectives and issues related to the current state of boot camps. The book goes beyond cursory examinations of the effectiveness of boot camps, presenting an in-depth view of a greater variety of issues. Correctional Boot Camps examines empirical evidence on boot camps drawn from diverse sources including male, female, juvenile, and adult programs from across the nation. The book explores empirical research on both the punitive and rehabilitative components of the boot camp model and the effectiveness of the "tough on crime" aspects of the programs that are often thought of as punishment or retribution, in lieu of a longer sentence in a traditional facility. Thus, offenders earn their way back to the general public more quickly because they have paid their debt to society by being punished in a short-term, but strict, boot camp. Correctional Boot Camps is a comprehensive textbook for undergraduate and graduate students studying corrections and juvenile justice. The book is also a valuable resource for correctional professionals interacting with offenders.

Boot camps have developed over the past two decades into a program that incorporates a military regimen to create a structured environment. While some critics of this method of corrections suggest that the confrontational nature of the program is antithetical to treatment, authors Doris Layton MacKenzie and Gaylene Styve Armstong present research knowledge and personal discussions with community leaders that offer insight into both the strengths and weaknesses of this controversial form of corrections.

Choose Drugs and Crime when you want a critical overview of public policy issues on law enforcement and regulation: It focuses on major policy initiatives and the implications of research conducted on their effectiveness. The evaluations of policy results are practical and focus on verifiable results. --The Midwest Book Review Addressing critical areas of drug control and system improvement, Drugs and Crime provides a clear and comprehensive examination of policy relevant research. Editors, MacKenzie and Uchida enlist outstanding experts in the field to produce a volume that explores the major problems related to drug trafficking and use. Each chapter focuses on a major policy initiative and discusses the problem area, policies designed to address the problem, research on the effectiveness of the policies, and policy implications of the research. Just how effective is the criminal justice system in its response to drug use by children and adolescents, prison overcrowding, backlog in the courts, increased criminal activity, youths in the drug distribution system, and serious illnesses such as AIDS? Policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and students will find the "what we know" and "what we need to know" presentations in Drugs and Crime a most unique and appealing addition to the literature and a valuable resource in the continuing effort to understand the complex relationship between drug use and crime.