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Preferred term

penal systems  

Definition

  • A penal system is a loosely bounded and differentiated structure of criminal justice institutions (police, prosecution, prison, parole, probation, and the like), crime control practices (such as sentencing and crime prevention), and criminological discourses (as reflected in criminal law, criminology, and penology). Penal systems tend to possess some autonomy in relation to their political environments, but the transnational dissemination of ideas about penality has helped produce similar changes in a variety of societies. [Source: Encyclopedia of Global Studies; Penal Systems]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/penal_systems

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