Encyclopedia of Prisons & Correctional Facilities

There are already at least a couple of recent small encyclopedias of American prisons and penal services – McShane and Williams (1996) and Sifakis (2003), both of which are worthy of consideration by penological libraries. It is, perhaps, debateable whether there are many libraries in the world that need more than one. The word American does need emphasising, as it does not appear in the title of the work under consideration. Although this kicks off with a chronology starting at the establishment of Bridewell in London in 1556, it moves rapidly on to the beginning of transportation to Virginia...