AMERICAN PENOLOGY - WORDS, DEEDS, AND CONSEQUENCES

A primary argument underlying this paper is that it is possible to cap ture a particular theory or conceptual rationale in the development of a penal program strategy. Further, it is possible to implement the pr ogram in a way that corresponds to both the program strategy and theor y and then to evaluate the program to determine the adequacy of bott t he program strategy and the theory upon which it is based. The history of U.S. penal reform does not illustrate this potential, however. Rat her, U.S. penal reforms have been implemented without evaluation and h ave resulted in a pattern of unintended consequences, most notably inc reased social control and an associated undermining of democratic righ ts and individual freedoms, without any corresponding decline in crime . These trends and outcomes are documented in order to draw penal prog ram and evaluation policy implications for the U.S. and their ever exp anding penal complex and the Czech Republic in their ongoing efforts t o implement a penal system consistent with their newly emerging democr atic society.