Prison as Punishment: A Behavior-Analytic Evaluation of Incarceration

The USA currently imprisons over 2.2 million people (Glaze and Kaeble, 2014). Of those, about 70 % will be rearrested within 3 years of release (Durose, Cooper, & Synder, 2014). If prison is viewed as a large-scale intervention, it lacks empirical support of effectiveness. The present paper reviews criminological data related to incarceration and evaluates components of imprisonment in light of behavior-analytic research on punishment. These factors include elements such as the individual’s learning history and aspects of the punisher (e.g., intensity and immediacy). Partnering with other professionals, behavior analysts interested in this area could apply their skills in research and practice to help mitigate a large-scale problem of great social significance.