傳統以來監獄論述的目標往往強調實現應報、威嚇、隔離、更生等刑罰學意義上，但是有關監獄與社會之間的互動脈絡與連結卻被忽略，本文以批判性的角度探討監獄是否扮演一種社會排除的機制，以壓迫和嚴厲的意識型態，來驅除、放逐、隔離與孤立犯罪人，並用來處理被視為無用以及具有潛在性的危險人口。本文研究的目的首先以批判角度剖析傳統監獄目標論述的問題與失敗，當監獄存在之論述著受到質疑與挑戰時，監獄在社會中所扮演的功能必須深切的從政治經濟學角度出發，從經濟與邊緣化、政治與社會的秩序、全景敞視的規訓等三個分析脈絡中，探討監獄如何做為犯罪的制裁的機構並成為社會中不可或缺的一環、底層階級的出口、以及社會控制的最佳利器，並更進一步地探究台灣監禁與刑罰的經驗是否成為社會排除的機制。本篇論文希冀以批判分析的角度提供嶄新的視野，對於當今我國犯罪控制的政策與走向提供深刻的深思與反省。

In tradition the goals of prison discourse always emphasize retribution,
deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation and so on for the justifications of state punishment. However, how a prison indeed functions in a broad society is more or less neglected. This paper aims to examine whether prison regime works as a mechanism of social exclusion which expels, banish, separate and isolate criminals.In this way, prison regime functions to cope with useless and potentially dangerous
populations. Therefore, three purposes on this paper are delineated. First, a prison is a fiasco in terms of it own punishment philosophy. Second, while a prison does not have a defense and is questioned and challenged, why do we have prisons at all? It needs to be stressed that the analysis of political economy perspectives provides a distinct explanation of indispensability of prison existence. Three analytical
frameworks including ‘economy and marginalization’, politic and social order,and panoptical discipline are articulated to examine how prisons as the institutions of criminal sanction become more and more important. It should be cautioned that prisons become the outlet of underclass and the best instrument for social control. In Final, the carceral and penal systems regarding the Taiwanese experience are further investigated in order to explore to what extent a prison functions as a social
exclusion. It is hoped that this paper can offer a critical perspective and a different landscape in analyzing and discussing for the field of penality.