U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Prisons Research at the Beginning of the 21st Century
NCJ Number
              184478

Author(s)
          Michael  Tonry;
                        Joan  Petersilia
Date Published

September 2000
Length
              13 pages
Annotation
              This essay reviews and critiques the current state of prisons research at the beginning of the 21st century.
Abstract
              The 1990s witnessed both a massive increase in the numbers of people imprisoned in the United States and a reduction in the crime rate that had been soaring since the 1960s. It is difficult to say with certainty, however, whether the increased use of imprisonment led to the reduction in the crime rate. While the many factors impacting the crime rate make such determinations murky at best, it is possible to know the second-order questions regarding the effects of imprisonment, and of various prison regimes and programs, on prisoners, their families, their communities, prison staff, and public spending. Despite the fact that there are many answerable questions regarding imprisonment, surprisingly little is known, which means that policymakers have been driving imprisonment policies in the absence of substantive research regarding its consequences. The current state of research concerning the collateral effects of imprisonment, such as the impact that imprisonment has on families, is critiqued followed by a discussion of the research on the crime control effects of imprisonment, which is a relatively small collection of research projects that has produced inconclusive results. Research into the effects of prisons on both prisoners and prison staff is similarly reviewed, followed by an exploration of the prison management literature, which is primarily concerned with understanding how order can best be maintained in prisons. Finally, the authors explain that the political economy of American prisons has drastically changed over the past 25 years with prison management increasingly coming under the private rather than the public domain. In closing the authors call for more research about prisons given their ubiquitous nature in American society. References
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Literature Review
    
  
  
Date Published: September 1, 2000
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF
                  Text

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Corrections
        Corrections research
        Criminal justice system policy
        Effects of imprisonment
        Literature Reviews



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Is It an Accident or Abuse? Researchers Develop Predictive Models for Pediatric Head Injuries
                  White Paper – Evolving Approaches And Technologies For Seized Drug Analysis
                  Attitudes of Reporting Officers Extracted From Incident Reports Can Affect Rape Case Outcomes
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov