Prison Conditions Around the World

Prison conditions are very different in different parts of the world. Consider Sweden, for example, at one end of the spectrum. In a wing of Sweden's top-security prison, red drapes hang from the ceiling while small candles burn on an altar and men kneel in prayer; prisoners have the opportunity to apply to spend some of their sentence in religious meditation. Similarly, in Denmark, the guards at Jyderup State Prison don't wear uniform and don't even carry guns. And then, there's Congo where the prisons are so horrific that the New York Times observed, "If there is a worse place on earth than a Congolese prison, stay well away." Prison Conditions Around the World describes prison conditions in countries on every continent. The stark contrasts are as dramatic as they are instructional. PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Each title in this series contains a foreword from the Associate Dean of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, color photos throughout, charts, and back matter that includes an index and further resource lists of books and Internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series, encouraging library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content-rich nonfiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers can reference back to the definitions-building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Educational Videos provide links via QR codes to online video content that gives a multimedia dimension to the topics. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.