This book investigates the challenge of quantifying and evaluating the moral performance and quality of life within prison environments. Alison Liebling, a prominent criminologist, utilizes extensive empirical research to address the difficulty of measuring intangible values in correctional settings. The work provides a framework for assessing how prison culture, staff-inmate relationships, and institutional policies impact the overall moral climate of these facilities.

Experts in the field of criminology recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the qualitative aspects of prison management. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the depth of the author's sociological analysis regarding institutional culture.