Punishment and social structure between migration, globalization and crisis

Abstract

In the following pages, the relationship between penalty and social structure will be integrated with the theory of long waves, keeping in consideration also immigration phenomena, identifying the possible impact on prison population rate with special regard to Italy and USA in a comparative perspective. But what does it mean to look for the relations between social structure, migrations, crime and prison population rate? The principal aim of this essay is to offer a contribution that can consider also the importance of criminal policies. At least, although in the 1970s immigration was really reduced in Italy, nowadays this important phenomenon has increased, so that we have to consider its connection with the long-wave theory, the structure of the society and prison population rate. The movements of migrants may be considered as the attempt to move from a society extremely low at less eligibility to another one charachterized by higher living standards.