The question “Does prison work” has been a subject of debate – in both sociology and wider society – for many years and in this video Professor Carol Hedderman examines some key questions and ideas about the use of imprisonment in our society to control crime: Does the threat of imprisonment deter criminals? Are imprisoned offenders reformed by their experience? Should prisons be abolished? Are prisons too soft? What are the alternatives?

Key concepts covered in this video:

• Social and crime control

• Deterrence

• Reform

• Reconviction rates (recidivism)

• Cycle of punishment

• Alternatives to prison

• Institutionalisation and Warehousing