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Re-theorizing the penal reform functions of the prison film

Revelation, humanization, empathy and benchmarking

University of Central England in Birmingham, UK

Sean O’Sullivan

University of Central England in Birmingham, UK

Previous literature on ‘the prison film’ has generally been sceptical as to the value of portrayals of prisons and prisoners in popular film. The prison film is said to contain little real information on penal conditions and to have contributed little or nothing to penal reform. The current article rejects this assessment and argues that the prison film can discharge several useful penal reform functions and that the importance of screen portrayals of prisons and prisoners has been understated.

Key Words: empathy • penal reform • prison film • sentiment

Theoretical Criminology, Vol. 9, No. 4, 471-491 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1362480605057728


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