Punishment and Society: The Emergence of an Academic Field

Abstract

This text establishes the conformation and consolidation of an area of study focused on punishment and reviews the main literature on it. For this, Simon and Sparks make a historical tour of the most influential contributions. First they collect the contributions of classical sociologists, who showed concern about the subject. During the 60s and 70s, a considerable number of critical studies appear that received a systematic and organized attention with the work of Garland. Since then, and with a clearer conscience, this type of studies has expanded and improved in sophistication, especially with the push received by the study of mass imprisonment.