Work and the Carceral State

Work and the Carceral State explores the relationship between criminalization, criminal justice, immigration policy, and labor, tracing their lineage through transportation, banishment, houses of correction, and prisons to the contemporary production of work. It argues that criminalization is used to enforce work and discipline labor and that the carceral state is at the forefront of labor control in the 21st century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2022
Publisher: Pluto Press

The carceral state has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the prison system. In England and Wales alone, over 17 million hours of labor were performed by more than 12,500 people who were incarcerated in prisons during the 2019-20 fiscal year. Furthermore, many individuals in immigration removal centers also engaged in work, often as a sub-waged, captive workforce that is discarded by the state once its purposes are served.

Work and the Carceral State delves into these various forms of work as part of a comprehensive examination of the intricate connections between criminalization, criminal justice, immigration policy, and labor. It traces the historical roots of these practices, from the transportation and banishment of convicts to the establishment of houses of correction and prisons, and ultimately to the contemporary production of work.

Criminalization has played a central role in enforcing work and disciplining labor throughout the history of England and Wales. This book argues that we must acknowledge the carceral state as a key player in the realm of labor control in the twenty-first century. By recognizing the carceral state's role in shaping our understanding of the prison system, we can begin to explore the broader implications of this phenomenon for society as a whole.

Weight: 232g
Dimension: 135 x 216 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745340166