''.the breadth of the historical analysis within this book allows for a wider view of the role that prisons have played in state security.'' ''[Rogan''s] book is an important contribution to the growing canon of criminological research in Ireland. It is also provides a fascinating historical overview that reminds one of the relevance of history to the present.'' -Dr Nicola Carr, Queen''s University Belfast, in the Irish Probation Journal, vol 8 Oct 2011 ''Rogan''s analysis is most intriguing in her ability to tell the history of ideas about prisons within Irish policy circles. In a sense, this text is as much an intellectual history of prisons in Ireland as it is a political or criminological study of these institutions.The best example of this involves the elusive idea that rehabilitation of the offender can be the primary function of incarceration. Rogan deftly demonstrates how rehabilitation as a concept served multiple functions in the development of Irish prison policy over time (including those epochs in which rehabilitation fell from grace as the organizing principle for incarceration in the state).

Further, Rogan''s analysis is exhaustive in its identification and consideration of the myriad factors contributing to these ideas (most notably, political prisoners and the state''s ability to finance its prisons), and how those ideas were brought to bear on legislation and policy through the efforts of change agents. These strengths are impressive, and function to set Rogan''s work apart from others whose scholarship examines and critiques penal policy in Ireland.'' ''.this critical study will enrich and enliven undergraduate and graduate seminars on prisons and political culture in Ireland and comparative criminal justice in the U.K., Europe, and the U.S.a pleasure to read.

'' -Taja-Nia Y. Henderson, Rutgers School of Law in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books, posted May 2012 "The fluid and compelling prose in the book brings the intracacies of policy formation and the unique aspects of Irish politics and culture to life. It outlines the colourful context in which Irish penal policy took shape - from the widepsread use of confinement by non-state institutions, to mass releases to celebrate religious occasions and audacious helicopter escapes. The thorough analysis provides a useful historical narratives and reinserts the question of agency into broader discussions about the socio-economic and cultural context of policy formation."--Roisin Mulgrew, Punishment & Society grace as the organizing principle for incarceration in the state). Further, Rogan''s analysis is exhaustive in its identification and consideration of the myriad factors contributing to these ideas (most notably, political prisoners and the state''s ability to finance its prisons), and how those ideas were brought to bear on legislation and policy through the efforts of change agents. These strengths are impressive, and function to set Rogan''s work apart from others whose scholarship examines and critiques penal policy in Ireland.'' ''.

this critical study will enrich and enliven undergraduate and graduate seminars on prisons and political culture in Ireland and comparative criminal justice in the U.K., Europe, and the U.S.a pleasure to read.'' -Taja-Nia Y. Henderson, Rutgers School of Law in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books, posted May 2012 "The fluid and compelling prose in the book brings the intracacies of policy formation and the unique aspects of Irish politics and culture to life. It outlines the colourful context in which Irish penal policy took shape - from the widepsread use of confinement by non-state institutions, to mass releases to celebrate religious occasions and audacious helicopter escapes.

The thorough analysis provides a useful historical narratives and reinserts the question of agency into broader discussions about the socio-economic and cultural context of policy formation."--Roisin Mulgrew, Punishment & Society prose in the book brings the intracacies of policy formation and the unique aspects of Irish politics and culture to life. It outlines the colourful context in which Irish penal policy took shape - from the widepsread use of confinement by non-state institutions, to mass releases to celebrate religious occasions and audacious helicopter escapes. The thorough analysis provides a useful historical narratives and reinserts the question of agency into broader discussions about the socio-economic and cultural context of policy formation."--Roisin Mulgrew, Punishment & Society.