penology

pe·nol·o·gy

noun \pi-ˈnä-lə-jē\

Definition of PENOLOGY

: a branch of criminology dealing with prison management and the treatment of offenders

— pe·no·log·i·cal \ˌpē-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

— pe·nol·o·gist \pi-ˈnä-lə-jist\ noun

Origin of PENOLOGY

Greek poinē penalty + English -logy — more at pain

First Known Use: 1838

Rhymes with PENOLOGY

andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, histology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, nephrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, ontology, oology, pathology, pedology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, psychology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, theology, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, virology, zoology

pe·nol·o·gy

noun \pi-ˈnäl-ə-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; pe·nol·o·gies

Medical Definition of PENOLOGY

: a branch of criminology dealing with prison management and the treatment of offenders

—pe·no·log·i·cal \ˌpē-nə-ˈläj-i-kəl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

penology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Branch of criminology dealing with prison management and the treatment of offenders. Penological studies have sought to clarify the ethical bases of punishment, along with the motives and purposes of society in inflicting it; differences throughout history and between nations in penal laws and procedures; and the social consequences of the policies in force at a given time. Influential historical works have included Cesare Beccaria's On Crimes and Punishments (1764), Jeremy Bentham's “Panopticon” scheme (c. 1800), Cesare Lombroso's Crime (1876), and Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish (1975).