Learning Objectives

  • Discuss why a comparative perspective is important.
  • Describe the important differences between the various legal systems in terms of how they impact correctional systems.
  • Explain the reasons for the radical shift in U.K. and French corrections policies since the 1990s.
  • Explain the basic difference between Anglo-American common law and the code systems of France, China, and Saudi Arabia.
  • Identify the role that the combination of Confucianism and communism plays in informing China’s correctional policies.
  • Explain the central role of Islam in the correctional practices of Saudi Arabia.
  • Analyze whether the United States is hard or soft on crime.