Yvonne Jewkes is Reader in Criminology at the Open University, the author of a number of books in the field of criminology and penology, and one of the founding editors of the journal Crime, Media, Culture; she is also the editor of Handbook on Prisons (Willan Publishing 2006).Helen Johnston is Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Hull, teaches a wide range of subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate level and has a particular research interest in the history of prison and imprisonment.

• Introduction: Prisons in Context Part A: The Emergence of the Modern Prison Extracts from Michael Foucault, W. Clay, Lucia Zedner, Margaret E. De Lacy, Philip Priestley, Randall McGowenPart B: Theoretical Approaches and Emerging Trends Extracts from Michael Cavadino and James Dignan, Richard Sparks, J.R. Sparks and A.E. Bottoms, Roy D. King, Sally Weale, Joe SimPart C: Prison Populations Extracts from Joe Sim, Pat Carlen and Anne Worrall, Ruth Wyner, Ben Bowling and Coretta Phillips, Kieran McEvoy, John MunciePart D: The Prison Community Extracts from Gresham M. Sykes, Erving Goffman, Stanley Cohen and Laurie Taylor, Thomas Mathiesen, Kathleen McDermott and Roy D. King, Elaine CrawleyPart E: Current Controversies Extracts from Alison Liebling, Ben Crewe, Philip Fennell, Stephanie Walker and Anne Worrall, James B. Jacobs, Stephen Livingstone

'As someone who has considerable experience of the everyday realities of prison life, to me this book was compelling. I found it to be both stimulating and illuminating, and I have learned a lot from reading it. Certainly if more people had a grasp of its contents, there would be a much more informed debate on the subject. There really should be a copy in every Governor's boardroom and prison library in the land.' – Ian Macfadyen Inspector, HM Inspectorate of Prisons'[T]his book undoubtedly provides a succinct and thorough account of the contentious issues that continue to equally concern academics, human rights lawyers and practitioners in the criminal justice field.' – Rose Parkes, De Montfort University