New Europe, old jails:the european integration of romanian penitentiary culture and civilization

Abstract

The book narrates a terrified treatment and experience of Romanian prisoners. It describes Romanian penitentiary system as promiscuous and destructive for both prisoners and staff, deleterious to their sense of responsibility and their attachment to the values of a normal society. Beyond the declared purpose of re-education, a penitentiary universe exists that works accordingly to its own laws, most of which unwritten, but nevertheless born from written ones. This universe engenders a culture where its members feel, think and act in ways which may seem unusual, but are only natural to the insiders. The book delves into penitentiary culture and its elements, dimension of civilization and the future of Romanian penitentiary system.