Goals of imprisonment have historically been incapacitation, deterrence, retribution, and reformation. Punishments that were once more common than incarceration and the historical evolution of prisons since the 19th century are examined. The review discusses bizarre death sentences in the Roman period, medieval reliance on the scaffold, and other forms of public shaming such as stocks used in Colonial America. The historical evolution of prisons and penitentiaries in Europe, England, and the United States since the 19th century is traced to demonstrate the sometimes contradictory goals of punishment and rehabilitation. The authors look at the social world of prisoners and explore various special institutions and other important aspects of prison history, including jails, reform schools, women's prisons, and political imprisonment. The book is organized in two parts: (1) prisons in history, with emphasis on the history of prisons in Europe, England, and the United States; and (2) themes and variations, with emphasis on Australian prisons, local jails, women's prisons, juvenile reform schools, political imprisonment, and the literature on confinement. References and photographs