What Are Prisons For? (the Forum)

In this time of austerity, many of those who want a small state are also committed to a highly expensive criminal justice apparatus that has little demonstrable deterrent effect. But are there other, more direct arguments against the use of imprisonment as a dominant form of punishment? If so, what are they? Why do they so often fall on deaf ears? And does the current economic climate make it more likely that those in power will listen?

Speakers
Christopher Bennett, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy (University of Sheffield)
Marija Krlic, Research Associate (University of Sheffield) and ex-prison governor
Kimberley Brownlee, Associate Professor in Legal and Moral Philosophy (University of Warwick)
Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns (Howard League for Penal Reform)

Chair
Peter Dennis, Fellow, Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method (LSE) and Forum for European Philosophy Fellow

#LSEFEP