Corrections in America: An Introduction

For courses in Corrections.

Easy-to-use, easy-to-teach complete guide to Corrections
The field’s best-selling text for over 40 years, Corrections in America: An Introduction addresses the current state of Corrections. With a tradition of comprehensive, student-friendly coverage, the text covers nearly all aspects of Corrections ― from its history, ideologies, and legal issues, to prisons and correctional clients. It combines current and past research, theory and practice, and real-world examples to offer readers a strong foundation of field knowledge. The 15th edition analyzes rapid, significant changes affecting Corrections, and projects their future impact.

Corrections in America : An Introduction, 15th Edition, is also available via Revel™, an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience.

About our authors

Harry E. Allen is Professor Emeritus in the Justice Studies Department at San Jose State University. Before joining San Jose State University in 1978, he served as Director of the Program for the Study of Crime and Delinquency at The Ohio State University. Previously, he served as Executive Secretary of the Governor’s Task Force on Corrections for the State of Ohio after teaching at Florida State University in the Department of Criminology and Corrections.

Professor Allen is the author or coauthor of numerous articles, chapters in books, essays and textbooks, including the first 10 editions of Corrections in America with Clifford E. Simonsen, the 11th edition with Drs. Simonsen and Edward J. Latessa, and the last four with Professor Latessa and Bruce S. Ponder. He also coauthored the first three editions of Corrections in the Community with Edward J. Latessa. He has been very active in professional associations and was the first criminologist to serve as president of both the American Society of Criminology (1982) and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (1994). He received the Herbert Block Award for service to the American Society of Criminology and the Founder’s Award for contributions to the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. He is a fellow in both the Western and the American Society of Criminology and was the most frequently cited criminologist in the field of correctional textbooks. He was a Humana Scholar at the University of Louisville (2001) and for the past 15 years has been designing and instructing online courses for the University of Louisville in the areas of corrections, ethics, substance abuse, community corrections, terrorism, alternatives to incarceration and capital punishment.

Edward J. Latessa received his PhD from Ohio State University and is Director and Professor of the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Latessa has published more than 170 works in criminal justice, corrections and juvenile justice. He is co-author of eight books, including What Works (and Doesn’t) in Reducing Recidivism, Corrections in the Community, and Corrections in America. Professor Latessa has directed more than 195 funded research projects, including studies of day reporting centers, juvenile justice programs, drug courts, prison programs, intensive supervision programs, halfway houses and drug programs. He and his staff have also assessed more than 1,000 correctional programs throughout the United States, and he has provided assistance and workshops in 48 states.

Dr. Latessa served as President of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (1989-90). He has also received several awards, including William T. Rossiter Award from the Forensic Mental Health Association of California (2017), Marguerite Q. Warren and Ted B. Palmer Differential Intervention Award presented by the Division of Corrections and Sentencing of the American Society of Criminology (2010), Outstanding Community Partner Award from the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (2010), Maud Booth Correctional Services Award in recognition of dedicated service and leadership presented by the Volunteers of America (2010), Community Hero Award presented by Community Resources for Justice (2010), the Bruce Smith Award for outstanding contributions to criminal justice by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (2010), the George Beto Scholar, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University (2009), the Mark Hatfield Award for Contributions in public policy research by The Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University (2008), the Outstanding Achievement Award by the National Juvenile Justice Court Services Association (2007), the August Vollmer Award from the American Society of Criminology (2004), the Simon Dinitz Criminal Justice Research Award from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (2002), the Margaret Mead Award for dedicated service to the causes of social justice and humanitarian advancement by the International Community Corrections Association (2001), the Peter P. Lejins Award for Research from the American Correctional Association (1999), ACJS Fellow Award (1998), ACJS Founders Award (1992), and the Simon Dinitz award by the Ohio Community Corrections Organization. In 2013, he was identified as one of the most innovative people in criminal justice by a national survey conducted by the Center for Court Innovation in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Bruce S. Ponder grew up in part on the raj of the Maharaja of Dharbhanga and in Europe. He was a professional race car driver in the 1970s, winning major competitions, including the “12 Hours of Sebring” (1972). He was formally trained in political science, computer information systems and computer sciences. He also studied terrorism extensively and team-taught in-service training programs at the Southern Police Institute. Currently, he is internet coordinator/online course developer and team instructor in a variety of courses at the Justice Administration Department at the University of Louisville, particularly in terrorism, intelligence and homeland security, and corrections.