It is a great pleasure to write a foreword to the excellent collection of works Inside Crime and Prison, authored by Professor César BarrosLeal. The honour rests on the relevance and rigour of the book, which analyses crucial social questions fromthe perspective of a jurist who has dedicated his life to human rights and the study of prison systems. The field of prison law, and the respect for human rights within it,is the foundation for more just and peaceful societies, thus the relevance of such rigorous work.The author, Professor Barros, is very well-positioned to address questions relating to the phenomenon of crime, prison, and alternative sentencing, as well as the juvenile justice system in Brazil, among others, given his vastexperience as State Attorney, Professor of Law, scholar, and president of the Brazilian Institute of Human Rights, among other relevant roles. The texts presented in the book are connected by the common thread of crime, punishment, restoration and human rights. The book is a rich compilation of in-depth studies and reflections around these themes, presented in different countries across the globe, over a period of three decades, which demonstrate that some themes are incessantly relevant, and globally pertinent. Professor Barros is a global citizen: his knowledge and reference to diverse sources from different legal cultures, coupled with his optimal linguistic abilities make Inside Crime and Prison not only an essential title for all jurists interested in the study of punishment and prisons, but also a fascinating book, beautifully written, for non-jurists.