'The prison crisis is a problem present throughout Latin America. Often made invisible by policies that emphasize punishment and a citizenry that seeks protection from crime; in most countries prisons are places of violence. In this excellent work, Bergman and Fondevila describe the multiple dimensions of the crisis and confirm that waves of incarceration have been key factors in increasing crime and violence. An urgent and necessary book, based on unique and comparative evidence, that allows us to further discuss a key issue to reduce violence and crime in the region.' Lucía Dammert, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
1: Introduction; 2, The Prison Explosion in Latin America; 3. Explaining the Prison Growth; 4. Drugs and Prisons; 5. Women Imprisonment and Violence in Latin America; 6. Justice Institutions in Latin America; 7. Life in Prison; 8. Hobbes in Prison; 9. Prison and the Outside World: The Fallacy of Separation; 10. Conclusions; Corrections and Criminal Policy.