Many experts contend longer prison sentences represent the best approach to reducing crime and convincing criminals they will receive harsh punishment. These experts assert such efforts will deter crime and keep dangerous criminals behind bars. In contrast, other experts argue that prison traumatizes inmates and turns many into hardened criminals and believe warehousing inmates without rehabilitation programs will be detrimental to society over time. Critics of building more prisons and giving criminals longer prison sentences maintain that money should be spent on preventing individuals, especially young people, from becoming criminals and recommend prevention measures include education, job training, proper parenting, health care, and drug treatment. Opposing viewpoints on prisons are organized in four chapters: (1) prison effectiveness; (2) how prisons should treat inmates (punishment, rehabilitation, and maximum security); (3) whether prisons should use inmate labor; and (4) alternatives to imprisonment (probation and parole, electronic monitoring, and drug treatment). References and figures