About the book
To many, asylums are a relic of a bygone era. State governments took steps between 1950 and 1990 to minimize the involuntary confinement of people in psychiatric hospitals, and many mental health facilities closed down. Yet, as Anne Parsons reveals, the asylum did not die during deinstitutionalization. Instead, it returned in the modern prison industrial complex as the government shifted to a more punitive, institutional approach to social deviance. Focusing on Pennsylvania, the state that ran one of the largest mental health systems in the country, Parsons tracks how the lack of community-based services, a fear-based politics around mental illness, and the economics of institutions meant that closing mental hospitals fed a cycle of incarceration that became an epidemic.
This groundbreaking book recasts the political narrative of the late twentieth century, as Parsons charts how the politics of mass incarceration shaped the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals and mental health policy making. In doing so, she offers critical insight into how the prison took the place of the asylum in crucial ways, shaping the rise of the prison industrial complex.
Editions of From Asylum to Prison
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469640631
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469669472
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469640655
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890852977
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469640648
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890852960
Read an Excerpt
To many, asylums are a relic of a bygone era. State governments took steps between 1950 and 1990 to minimize the involuntary confinement of people in psychiatric hospitals, and many mental health facilities closed down. Yet, as Anne Parsons reveals, the asylum did not die during deinstitutionalization. Instead, it returned in the modern prison industrial complex as the government shifted to a more punitive, institutional approach to social deviance. Focusing on Pennsylvania, the state that ran one of the largest mental health systems in the country, Parsons tracks how the lack of community-based services, a fear-based politics around mental illness, and the economics of institutions meant that closing mental hospitals fed a cycle of incarceration that became an epidemic.
This groundbreaking book recasts the political narrative of the late twentieth century, as Parsons charts how the politics of mass incarceration shaped the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals and mental health policy making. In doing so, she offers critical insight into how the prison took the place of the asylum in crucial ways, shaping the rise of the prison industrial complex.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is From Asylum to Prison about?
To many, asylums are a relic of a bygone era. State governments took steps between 1950 and 1990 to minimize the involuntary confinement of people in psychiatric hospitals, and many mental health facilities closed down. Yet, as Anne Parsons reveals, the asylum did not die during deinstitutionalization. Instead, it returned in the modern prison industrial complex as the government shifted to a more punitive, institutional approach to social deviance. Focusing on Pennsylvania, the state that ran one of the largest mental health systems in the country, Parsons tracks how the lack of community-based services, a fear-based politics around mental illness, and the economics of institutions meant that closing mental hospitals fed a cycle of incarceration that became an epidemic.
This groundbreaking book recasts the political narrative of the late twentieth century, as Parsons charts how the politics of mass incarceration shaped the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals and mental health policy making. In doing so, she offers critical insight into how the prison took the place of the asylum in crucial ways, shaping the rise of the prison industrial complex.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in From Asylum to Prison?
Medicine and Nursing > Medicine / Healthcare: general issues / topics > History of medicine
Where can I read a sample of From Asylum to Prison?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469640631
How long is From Asylum to Prison and how many pages does it have?
From Asylum to Prison has 240 page(s)
Is From Asylum to Prison part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Justice, Power, and Politics
Who is/are the Author/s of the book From Asylum to Prison?
Anne E. Parsons
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
From Asylum to Prison is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469640631) and paperback(ISBN 9781469669472) and ebook(ISBN 9781469640655) and ebook(ISBN 9798890852977) and ebook(ISBN 9781469640648) and pdf(ISBN 9798890852960)
Where can I buy From Asylum to Prison online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy From Asylum to Prison from below
Where can I buy From Asylum to Prison?