Now in its Seventh Edition, this remains the most complete and authoritative resource on the penal system. Continuing the influential analysis of the multiple crises affecting the system, including the critical 'crisis of legitimacy,' this new edition traces the political developments through to the most recent changes. Inside you will find: Analysis of the latest statistics on crime, sentencing, prison demographics, and youth justice; Sustained focus on the aftermath of the COVID Pandemic, from the backlog of court cases it created, to the reduction of 'purposeful activity' in prisons; Coverage of high-profile cases from the escape of Daniel Khalife to the imprisonment of Just Stop Oil protestors; New, updated examples including the effect of the election of the Labour Government in 2024 on prisons and penal reform. This book is a must-have for students of criminal justice and criminology, or anyone studying penology, punishments and the penal system.