"Since the 1970s, the corrections system has experienced exponential growth. Over the past four decades, the number of inmates held in US prisons and jails has quadrupled. This massive growth is associated with a number of different issues and challenges within prisons and jails, including overcrowding; gang activity and misconduct; a shift away from rehabilitation and programming; expanded use of solitary confinement; inmates' human rights; criticisms of health care; and massive, publicly funded budgets. Many more states now spend more on corrections than higher education. "Issues in corrections: research, policy, and future prospects" explores these issues in depth. It takes current topics in institutional corrections and explores the main issues surrounding each. Themes include institutional corrections, prison behavior (including gangs and misconduct), solitary confinement, prison programming, and rehabilitation."--Back cover.

pt. 1: Institutional corrections.pt. 2: Security issues. pt. 3: Programming. Psychological prison programs / -- Substance abuse treatment in prisons and jails / -- Correctional education and social reintegration / -- Conclusion: corrections tomorrow / John P. Walsh and Carly M. Hilinski-Rosick. Institutional corrections: Introduction -- Jails -- Prisons -- Gender issues in corrections -- Security issues: Classification of inmates -- Prison gangs and security threat groups -- Solitary confinement -- Programming: Psychological prison programs -- Substance abuse treatment in prisons and jails -- Correctional education and social reintegration -- Conclusion -- Index.