Prisons in Romania. Effects on offenders lives

The present book is a collection of empirical studies aimed at understanding the experience of imprisonment and the way(s) it shapes the offenders? lives. It discusses from a sociological perspective three prevailing themes in the literature on prison life and effects of imprisonment that are also highly relevant for policymakers and professionals working within the prison system: (1) prisoner victimization; (2) prisoner human capital and perception on post-release employment prospects; and (3) prisoner family relationships. Much of the research on these topics is based on Anglo-American data; consequently, little empirical evidence transpires from Eastern European countries that even now, 25 years after the fall of Communism, remain rather punitive and deficient in providing adequate conditions of confinement. In an attempt of addressing this gap, the current book focuses on Romania and its under-studied prison system. Its main ambition is to pave the way for future sociological contributions and research on prisons in Romania, with a focus on the lived experience of imprisonment.