Incarceration: Are Prisons a Suitable Punishment?

Explore the ethics of imprisonment and identify prison alternatives

England and Wales have the highest incarceration rate in Western Europe. Almost a quarter of these prisoners are held in overcrowded prisons. On this course, you will take a look inside the prisons of England and Wales.

You will consider the role of imprisonment as a form of punishment, and hear from ex-prisoners about their experience of being incarcerated. Through case studies, you will explore the challenges faced by the current prison system. You will identify alternative methods of punishment and rehabilitation, and learn about the debates that exist within the criminal justice system.

This course is for anyone looking to investigate whether prisons are a suitable punishment for offenders.

The course will be useful for professionals such as social workers, probation officers, and anyone that supports prisoners.

This course is also useful for learners interested in studying criminology or related disciplines at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

• Justice as Punishment
• Welcome
• Does breaking the law always result in prison?
• The prison system: problems and solutions
• The experience of imprisonment
• Summary
• Justice as an agent for reform
• About week 2
• 'Going straight' – rehabilitation and resettlement
• Alternatives to custody
• How should offenders be punished?
• Summary