Imprisonment in Europe: An Overview of Current and Up-To-Date Prison Research

Abstract

Crime is a major societal problem. One way societies try to deal with crime is by imprisoning offenders. Imprisonment is the most severe criminal sanction that can be imposed on offenders in European Union countries. Decades ago, research already identified imprisonment as one of the most stressful life events (Holmes & Rahe, 1967). At present, about 1.7 million people are being detained in penal institutions across European countries (Walmsley, 2018). A prison sentence not only affects the offender but also extends to his or her family (e.g. parents, partners, and children). As such, many people are affected by prison sentences. Given the severity of the punishment, the high numbers affected by it, and the high costs associated with imprisonment, accurate knowledge on the implementation, execution, and consequences of imprisonment is of paramount importance. Knowledge on such issues will contribute to safety in society, reducing reoffending and promoting successful prisoner reentry, improving offender rehabilitation, and to creating a safe prison environment for all those working and living in prisons.