Punishment, purpose, and place: A case study of Arizona's prison siting decisions

Abstract

In this chapter, I trace Arizona's prison siting and construction history to examine how cultural norms and traditions, economics, political prerogatives, and notions about the prison's purpose shape how such institutions are conceived, planned, and realized over time. By looking longitudinally at how prisons have come to be – as physical entities – in one locale, I reveal both the continuities and changes in the underlying meaning of the prison. In doing so, I aim to contribute to a broader understanding of the process of late modern penal change, especially the proliferation of prison building in the past 30 years.

Citation

Lynch, M. (2009), "Punishment, purpose, and place: A case study of Arizona's prison siting decisions", Sarat, A. (Ed.) Studies in Law, Politics and Society (Studies in Law, Politics, and Society, Vol. 50), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 105-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1059-4337(2009)0000050007