Life imprisonment has replaced capital punishment as the most common sentence imposed for heinous crimes worldwide. As a consequence, it has become the leading issue in international criminal justice reform. In the first global survey of prisoners serving life terms, Dirk van Zyl Smit and Catherine Appleton argue for a human rights–based reappraisal of this exceptionally harsh punishment. The authors estimate that nearly half a million people face life behind bars, and the number is growin...

Life imprisonment is the punishment most often imposed worldwide for what societies regard as the most serious offences. Yet, in Asia the phenomenon has never been studied systematically. Life Imprisonment in Asia fills this major gap. It brings together thirteen new essays on life imprisonment in key jurisdictions in the region. Each chapter consolidates what is known about the law and practice of life imprisonment in the jurisdiction and then explores aspects of the imposition or impleme...

In medical jargon, “dual diagnosis” commonly refers to the concurrent diagnosis of a substance addiction compounded by a separate (but often interfering) mental illness. Dual Diagnosis glimpses into the lives of individuals who live with co-occurring disorders, and offers insight into their experiences, their treatment options, and the manner in which they adjust to societal expectations. This piece of long form investigative journalism delves into the hard facts and general statistics abo...