A Country Called Prison : Mass Incarceration and the Making of a New Nation

The United States is the world leader in incarcerating citizens. 707 people out of every 100,000 are imprisoned. If those currently incarcerated in the US prison system were a country, it would be the 102nd most populated nation in the world. Aside from looking at the numbers, if we could look at prison from a new viewpoint, as its own country rather than an institution made up of walls and wires, policies and procedures, and legal statutes, what might we be able to learn? In A Country Called Prison , Mary Looman and John Carl propose a paradigm shift in the way that American society views mass incarceration. Weaving together sociological and psychological principles, theories of political reform, and real-life stories from experiences working in prison and with at-risk families, Looman and Carl form a foundation of understanding to demonstrate that prison is more than an institution built of fences and policies - it is a culture. Prison continues well after incarceration, as ex-felons leave correctional facilities (and often return to impoverished neighborhoods) without money or legal identification of American citizenship. Trapped in the isolation of poverty, these legal aliens turn to illegal ways of providing for themselves and are often reimprisoned. This situation is unsustainable and America is clearly facing an incarceration epidemic that requires a new perspective to eradicate it. A Country Called Prison offers concrete, feasible, economical suggestions to reform the prison system and help prisoners return to a healthier life after incarceration. The United States Is The World Leader In Incarcerating Citizens. 707 People Out Of Every 100,000 Are Imprisoned. If Those Currently Incarcerated In The Us Prison System Were A Country, It Would Be The 102nd Most Populated Nation In The World. Aside From Looking At The Numbers, If We Could Look At Prison From A New Viewpoint, As Its Own Country Rather Than An Institution Made Up Of Walls And Wires, Policies And Procedures, And Legal Statutes, What Might We Be Able To Learn? In A Country Called Prison, Mary Looman And John Carl Attempt To Answer This Question By Proposing A Paradigm Shift In The Way That American Society Views Mass Incarceration. Weaving Together Sociological And Psychological Principles, Theories Of Political Reform, And Real-life Stories From Experiences Working In Prison And With At-risk Families, Looman And Carl Form A Foundation Of Understanding To Demonstrate That Prison Is A Culture, Not Purely An Institution Made Up Of Fences, Building, And Policies. Prison Continues Well After Incarceration, As Ex-felons Leave Correctional Facilities Without Legal Identification Of American Citizenship, Without Money, And Often Return To Impoverished Neighborhoods. Imprisoned In The Isolation Of Poverty, These Legal Aliens Turn To Illegal Ways Of Providing For Themselves And Often Return To Prison. This Situation Is Unsustainable And America Is Clearly Facing An Incarceration Epidemic That Requires A New Perspective To Eradicate It. A Country Called Prison Offers Concrete, Doable, And Economical Suggestions To Reform Not Only The Prison System, But Also To Help Prisoners Return To A Healthier Life After Incarceration-- The United States Is The World Leader In Incarceration. We Imprison 716 People Out Of Every 100,000 - Compare That To Canada (118), France (101), Mexico (210), Japan (51)... Even Russia Can Only Manage A Prison Population Rate Of 472. The Total Us Prison Population Is Over 2.25 Million, Greater Than The Population Of 100 Different Countries. In Fact, If The Us Prison System Were A Country, It Would Be The 142nd Most Populous Nation On Earth, Falling Between Jamaica And Namibia. But Besides Comparisons Based On Sheer Numbers, What Might We Learn If We Viewed Prison As A Country? In A Country Called Prison, Mary Looman And John Carl Will Use This Question As The Starting Point For A Novel Thought Experiment-- Chapter 1. Introduction To The Country Called Prison -- Chapter 2. What Makes Prisons A Country? -- Chapter 3. Who Are The People Of The Country Called Prison? -- Chapter 4. Living In The Country Called Prison -- Chapter 5. Visiting America From The Country Called Prison -- Chapter 6. Emigrating From The Country Called Prison -- Chapter 7. Assimilating The Country Called Prison -- Appendix: Summary Of Proposals. Mary D. Looman, John D. Carl. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 209 -218) And Index. The United States is the world leader in incarceration; 707 people out of every 100,000 are imprisoned. If the US prison system were a country, it would be the 143rd most populated nation in the world. Aside from looking at the numbers, if we could look at prison from a new view as its own country rather than an institution made up of walls and wiers, policies and procedures, and legal statues, what might we be able to learn? 'In a country called prison' Mary Looman and John Carl attempt to answer this question by proposing a paradigm shift in the way that American society views mass incarceration. Weaving together sociological and psychological principles, theories of political reform, and real-life stories from experiences working in prison and with at-risk families, Looman and Carl form a fundamental fabric of understanding to demonstrate that prison is a culture, that transcends the fences and buildings of correctional facilities.0This culture, they argue, begins in the prisons of disadvantage, abusive and neglected childhoods, continues in correctional facilities, and proceeds to infiltrate life post-incarceration, as ex-felons leave correctional facilities (and often return to impoverished neighborhoods)without money or legal identification of American citizenship. Caught in the isolation of poverty, these legal aliens turn to illegal means of providing for themselves, and are often reimprisoned. This situation is unsustainable and America is clearly facing an incarceration epidemic that requires a new perspective to eradicate it. 'A country called prison' offers pragmatic, transformative, and economical suggestions to reform the prison system and help prisoners return to a healthier life after incarceration "The United States is the world leader in incarcerating citizens. 707 people out of every 100,000 are imprisoned. If those currently incarcerated in the US prison system were a country, it would be the 102nd most populated nation in the world. Aside from looking at the numbers, if we could look at prison from a new viewpoint, as its own country rather than an institution made up of walls and wires, policies and procedures, and legal statutes, what might we be able to learn? In A Country Called Prison, Mary Looman and John Carl attempt to answer this question by proposing a paradigm shift in the way that American society views mass incarceration. Weaving together sociological and psychological principles, theories of political reform, and real-life stories from experiences working in prison and with at-risk families, Looman and Carl form a foundation of understanding to demonstrate that prison is a culture, not purely an institution made up of fences, building, and policies. Prison continues well after incarceration, as ex-felons leave correctional facilities without legal identification of American citizenship, without money, and often return to impoverished neighborhoods. Imprisoned in the isolation of poverty, these legal aliens turn to illegal ways of providing for themselves and often return to prison. This situation is unsustainable and America is clearly facing an incarceration epidemic that requires a new perspective to eradicate it. A Country Called Prison offers concrete, doable, and economical suggestions to reform not only the prison system, but also to help prisoners return to a healthier life after incarceration"--Résumé de l'éditeur "The United States is the world leader in incarcerating citizens. 707 people out of every 100,000 are imprisoned. If those currently incarcerated in the US prison system were a country, it would be the 143rd most populated nation in the world. Aside from looking at the numbers, if we could look at prison from a new viewpoint, as its own country rather than an institution made up of walls and wires, policies and procedures, and legal statutes, what might we be able to learn? In A Country Called Prison, Mary Looman and John Carl attempt to answer this question by proposing a paradigm shift in the way that American society views mass incarceration. Weaving together sociological and psychological principles, theories of political reform, and real-life stories from experiences working in prison and with at-risk families, Looman and Carl form a foundation of understanding to demonstrate that prison is a culture, not purely an institution made up of fences, building, and policies. Prison continues well after incarceration, as ex-felons leave correctional facilities without legal identification of American citizenship, without money, and often return to impoverished neighborhoods. Imprisoned in the isolation of poverty, these legal aliens turn to illegal ways of providing for themselves and often return to prison. This situation is unsustainable and America is clearly facing an incarceration epidemic that requires a new perspective to eradicate it. A Country Called Prison offers concrete, doable, and economical suggestions to reform not only the prison system, but also to help prisoners return to a healthier life after incarceration."-- Book jacket The United States is the world leader in incarcerating citizens. 707 people out of every 100,000 are imprisoned. If those currently incarcerated in the US prison system were a country, it would be the 102nd most populated nation in the world. Aside from looking at the numbers, if we could look at prison from a new viewpoint, as its own country rather than an institution made up of walls and wires, policies and procedures, and legal statutes, what might we be able to learn?In A Country Called Prison, Mary Looman and John Carl propose a paradigm shift in the way that American society views mass incarceration. Weaving together sociological and psychological principles, theories of political reform, and real-life stories from experiences working in prison and with at-risk families, Looman and Carl form a foundation of understanding to demonstrate that prison is more than an institution built of fences and policies - it is a culture. Prison continues well after incarceration, as ex-felons leave correctional facilities (and often return to impoverished neighborhoods) without money or legal identification of American citizenship. Trapped in the isolation of poverty, these legal aliens turn to illegal ways of providing for themselves and are often reimprisoned. This situation is unsustainable and America is clearly facing an incarceration epidemic that requires a new perspective to eradicate it. A Country Called Prison offers concrete, feasible, economical suggestions to reform the prison system and help prisoners return to a healthier life after incarceration. "The United States is the world leader in incarceration. We imprison 716 people out of every 100,000 - compare that to Canada (118), France (101), Mexico (210), Japan (51) ... even Russia can only manage a prison population rate of 472. The total US prison population is over 2.25 million, greater than the population of 100 different countries. In fact, if the US prison system were a country, it would be the 142nd most populous nation on earth, falling between Jamaica and Namibia. But besides comparisons based on sheer numbers, what might we learn if we viewed prison as a country? In A Country Called Prison, Mary Looman and John Carl will use this question as the starting point for a novel thought experiment"-- Provided by publisher