Essentials of Corrections, 3rd Edition

The first "core" corrections book published by Thomson Wadsworth, ESSENTIALS OF CORRECTIONS, Third Edition introduces students to the essential elements of the United States' corrections system without overwhelming students with excessive detail or unnecessary technical jargon. Unbiased and accessible, this text includes coverage of the history of corrections, the key theories relating to crime causation, new chapters on race and gender issues in corrections, programs and approaches that are currently successful, and alternatives to incarceration. The authors' unparalleled practical approach, reinforced by contemporary examples, helps students understand the role corrections plays in our society and provides them with useful information about professional opportunities in the field.

Mays and Winfree, both affiliated with New Mexico State University, focus on essentials of corrections in the US in this text for undergraduates taking a one-semester or one-quarter first course in corrections. Theories of correction are translated into real-world experiences, and corrections issues are examined from multiple perspectives. This third edition contains two new chapters on gender and race and ethnicity, as well as updated information on jail and prison populations, the death penalty, and inmate litigation. A unique feature of the text is its use of high-quality b&w photos from a 15- year documentary project by freelance photographer Lloyd de Grane. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Dr. Mays was a Knoxville, Tennessee police officer for five years prior to completing his Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Tennessee in 1979. He has previously taught at Appalachian State and East Tennessee State Universities. Dr. Mays has served as a consultant to the Department of Corrections, State Police, Youth Authority, and Association of Counties in New Mexico and to the El Paso, Texas Police Department. From 1981 to 1990, Dr. Mays was head of the New Mexico State University Department of Criminal Justice. His primary areas of research interest are jails, court organization and administration, and juvenile justice.

Tom Winfree received his Ph.D. (sociology) degree from the University of Montana in 1976. Besides his current position as professor of criminal justice at New Mexico State University, he has held academic appointments at the University of New Mexico, East Texas State University (now Texas A and M University, Commerce), and Louisiana State University. Tom has authored or co-authored over 70 refereed journal articles, 20-plus book chapters, and numerous reports. He is co-author, with Howard Abadinsky, of UNDERSTANDING CRIME (Wadsworth, 2003). Included among Tom's research interests are youth gangs, police socialization, and contemporary justice system responses to drug and alcohol problems.