America's incarceration rate was roughly constant from 1925 to 1973, with an average of 110 people behind bars for every 100,000 residents. By 2013, however, the rate of incarceration in state and federal prisons had increased sevenfold to 716. Compared with 102 for Canada, 132 for England and Wales, 85 for France, and a paltry 48 in Japan, the United States is the worlds' most aggressive jailer. When one factors in those on parole or probation, the American correctional system is in control of more than 7.3 million Americans, or one in every 31 U.S. adults. This means that 6.7 million adult men and women -- about 3.1 percent of the total U.S. adult population -- are now very non-voluntary members of America's "correctional community." Some key questions that need to be addressed are: "What are we doing with those 7.3 million Americans? How are they being treated while they are incarcerated? How can we best prepare them to return to their communities?" More than 650,000 offenders are released back into our communities every year; however, 70% are rearrested within three years of their release. Serving the Stigmatized is the first book of its kind that explores best practices when dealing with a specific prison population while under some form of institutional control. If the established goal of a correctional facility is to "rehabilitate," then it is imperative that the rehabilitation is effective and does not simply serve as a political buzz word. The timing of releasing this book coincides with a real movement in the United States, supported by both conservative and liberal advocates and foundations, to decrease the size of the prison population by returning more offenders to their communities. The text examines 14 specific populations and how to effectively treat them in order to better serve them and our communities. "A major strength of this book is its presentation of information in a way that is useful and easily understood by professionals from a variety of fields, including criminal justice, social work, and psychology. I recommend this book for readers interested in learning about special populations in correctional facilities, options to provide evidence-based treatment, current policies impacting them and prevention strategies to potential­ly avoid their incarceration." -- Carolyn Sutherby, Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare " Serving the Stigmatized fills a void in the literature by providing a comprehensive volume to address many of the current challenges in the Criminal Justice system and suggest solutions to them. Filled with readable and well-researched articles, the book illustrates the problems and gives practical and reasonable solutions to address them. Its perspective is clear: to provide a road map to decrease punitive policies and increase workable rehabilitation services. A must-read." John D. Carl, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma "Church and Springer, along with a diverse group of scholars, bring to light the additional difficulties experienced by stigmatized populations. Each chapter identifies important statistical data and historical information about a stigmatized population, specific difficulties faced by each group while incarcerated and during re-entry, and a thorough discussion of pragmatic, evidence-informed solutions. Case studies and recommended online resources inspire readers to imagine and discuss better ways to inhibit criminal behavior while actualizing human potential. This is a timely, readable, and instructive collection of scholarly reflections regarding fourteen stigmatized populations. This is a must-read for anyone interested in criminal justice reform." -Mary D. Looman, PhD, Adjunct Professor, University of Oklahoma "Church, Springer, and colleagues address the longstanding and vexing problem of incarceration in the United States. The authors use empirical evidence and case studies to identify and illustrate effective policies and intervention strategies for reducing the country's high rates of incarceration. The book's focus on fourteen special populations at highest risk for confinement makes this a must-read for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers. This is the best book currently available on applying evidence to reduce disparities in incarceration among our nation's most vulnerable citizens." -Jeffrey M. Jenson, PhD, Philip D. & Eleanor G. Winn Endowed Professor for Children and Youth, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver "This book is an unprecedented resource for scholars, students, and the general public. The authors provide an important, timely, and comprehensive examination of criminal justice trends, correctional and public policies, justice system practices, and the lived experiences of individuals who become involved in the correctional system. This book is a must-read for all those committed to the adoption of effective strategies as the United States enters an era of smart