By Horst Entorf.

Economists think that unemployment is an important cause for crime. From the theoretical point of view, this belief seems to be reasonable, since, according to the standard economic theory of crime by Nobel laureate Gary Becker , unemployed individuals are per definition excluded from legal income opportunities, and, thus, more likely to commit crimes than people who have a job. Empirical evidence is less clear. Econometric studies often show ambiguous signs for the effect of unemployment on crime. The main problem is the lack of adequate micro data. In this study based on a survey of 1,771 inmates conducted in 31 German prisons, the focus is on (expected) recidivism, not on criminal activity in general. Instead of re-contacting former inmates after their release (which would cause the problem of losing sight of most re-offending inmates), we interviewed prisoners about the perceived probability of their own future recidivism. Results show that inmates with poor labour market prospects expect a significantly higher rate of future recidivism. Having a closer look at subgroups of prisoners reveals that drug and alcohol addiction cause adverse effects. Thus, improving prisoner health care by installing effective anti-drug programmes would be one of the most effective measures against crime.

Mannheim: ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, 2008. 26p.

Edited by M.J.M.Brand-Koolen.

This reader on the prison system was edited by Maria Brand-Koolen. Two chapters have been written especially for this volume - the introductory chapter, written by the editor, and the chapter on temporary release, written by a researcher with the RDC and a member of the Prison Department. Three contributions by Tony Vinson of Australia, who explored the Dutch correctional system in some detail during his visit to the Centre in 1985, are slightly revised versions of chapters from a recent RDC publication. The remaining contributions are the work of (former) RDC researchers and have been published earlier in the Dutch language. Some of these previously published papers have been slightly revised to provide more recent data.The general studies in the first part of the two-part volume provide an overview of the main characteristics of Dutch correctional policy and research. The first chapter aims to give the non-Dutch reader a general idea of the criminal justice system in The Netherlands (in particular the correctional system) and to facilitate understanding of the other contributions. In the second part of the book the authors deal with a variety of special topics, among others the mentally abnormal offender, drug users, ethnic minorities and prison leave.

Deventer: Kugler Publications, 1987. 194p.

By Roy Walmsley.

This second study of developments in the prison systems of central and eastern Europe owes a very great deal to the contributions of experts in the participating countries. I am extremely grateful for the warm hospitality of those prison administrations that I visited and the generous co-operation of those that completed survey questionnaires giving detailed information on the situation in their prison systems, including statistics of prisoners, penal institutions and prison staff. The report focuses mainly on the situation in 2001, although some reference is made to developments in the following year, notably the passing of new legislation bearing on the prison system, and the publication of documents referring to events in 2001. But it must be acknowledged that some of the information presented will already have been superseded by subsequent events. In covering so wide a range of countries and so broad a topic it is not feasible to present detailed information on each prison administration that is completely up-to-date. An appendix containing reference material also mentions some more recent events, in particular the appointment of new directors of prison administration. The core of the study is contained in the first twenty sections which provide an overview of developments across the whole region. The second part presents an account of the situation in each of the twenty-four prison systems (sections 21-44), and also brief information about prisons of the region that are located in areas that are outside the control of the governments of the countries of which they are officially a part and are consequently not under the prison administrations of those countries.

Helsinki: European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, 2003. 593p.

By Richard Vaux.

Origin and History for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Those who are earnestly enquiring after the best system of punishment for criminals will find that the vital question to be determined, is to ascertain that system which best secures punishment, reforms the individual, protects society, and prevents the existence of a criminal class, educated and organized during imprisonment. This is the serious, the primary question which is paramount to “cost," " support” and profit “making," those minor subjects, which too frequently receive undue attention in discussing systems of punishment.”

Phila. McLaughlin (1872) 162p.