The authors outline theories that claim to justify and explain the practice of punishment and consider their value in promoting a better understanding of the penal system. They argue that the penal system not only suffers from severe practical problems but is also morally indefensible, and they highlight radical reforms they believe are urgently needed. Throughout the book, comparisons of the penal system in England and Wales are made with other penal systems around the world. Various facets of the penal crisis are discussed, along with penal sociology, the crisis of legitimacy faced by the penal system, court decisions that contribute to the penal crisis, prison overcrowding, prison privatization, early release, noncustodial penalties, young offenders, and bias within the criminal justice system. Recommendations are offered on how to resolve the penal crisis. References, notes, tables, and figures