Abstract: This chapter discusses how Gresham Sykes, a pioneer in criminology, recognized most of what was wrong with the language of punishment. Many applauded his insights, and his book <italic>The Society of Captives</italic> (1958) became a classic on prison culture. Sykes exposed a language of punishment that did not reach the punished. Three glib theoretical terms—retribution, deterrence, and rehabilitation—gave a beguiling neatness and simplicity to theories of incarceration. But “this three-pronged aim” existed in such conflict with itself that it could not answer the crucial question of whether the convicted is placed in prison <italic>for</italic> punishment, or <italic>as</italic> punishment. Instead of answering that question, the three prongs held the distinction permanently aloft.
Publication Year: 2018
Publication Date: 2018-04-17
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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