LUCAS, Charles.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Du système pénitentiaire en Europe et aux États-Unis, Second edition of the prison theorist's landmark work, an early critique of capital punishment. It was awarded the Montyon prize in 1830 by the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences. Volume I was first published in 1828 and Volume II in 1830; a Conclusion général was published separately in 1830.Although he was at first a supporter of the Quaker-influenced Philadelphia system of solitary confinement, Lucas (1803-1889) gradually became less convinced of its effectiveness. "Lucas's ideas were the polar opposite of Tocqueville's and Beaumont's. He held optimistic assumptions about human nature and was convinced of the reforming powers of Bentham's utilitarianism. He fought hard for the creation of French versions of Dumont's ideal Swiss prison" (Drolet, p. 122). Following the success of his reports, in 1830 Lucas was appointed Inspector General of Prisons, a post he held for 35 years.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.