The first comparative study of the subject, this book provides a comprehensive and balanced review of the philosophy and practicality of punishment. It analyzes the efficacy of both traditional methods and thinking as well as novel concepts and approaches to produce an objective and sober appraisal of the theory, practice, history, and empirical evidence surrounding crime prevention, identification, retribution, and incarceration. It considers changing attitudes in penal practice, sociology of prisoners, abolition of the capital punishment, non-incarcerative and alternative punishment as well as several methods for achieving measurable crime prevention. It also presents case studies that illustrate the concepts discussed.