Drs. DeLisi and Conis provide their unparalleled research expertise/productivity and nearly 40 years of combined criminal justice practitioner experience to make American Corrections: Theory, Research, Policy, and Practice, Second Edition the ideal introductory text for the corrections course. They use a straightforward writing style that is scholarly, engaging, and fun. Updated throughout, it contains both classic and cutting-edge contemporary data on correctional topics drawing from the fields of criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, government, and public policy.

The text is broken down into four parts, starting with an overview of the correctional system, including the history and philosophy of corrections. It progresses to discuss the management of offender risk and covers the ways in which the correctional system classifies offenders according to the risks they exemplify. Part III delves into the prison system and includes discussions on the journey of prisoners, from prison, to parole, and reentry into society. This comprehensive introduction concludes with an examination of the special populations within the correctional system, including juveniles, women, and those sentenced to capital punishment and civil commitment.