abrswf's review against another edition
3.0
This is a well written and carefully researched book on an important topic but I had to force myself through it. I was there for the war on drugs myself and i can’t disagree more with Forman’s premise that African American judges, police and local representatives are to blame for “locking up our own.” I was a warrior myself and believed the same things these folks did, but the reality is that the war was launched, funded and directed by racism. The premise of this book makes about as much sense to me as blaming soldiers and citizens from a town devastated by war for the country leaders who launched and waged it. The true story of the war on drugs is told much more accurately and insightfully by Michelle Alexander in The New Jim Crow. Having said that, I did like the glimpses of Forman’s clients and students in the book, and applaud his admirable career as an opponent of the war.
pinkhydroflask's review against another edition
1.0
This was another book on the recommended list of reads when I was trying to educate myself on the BLM movement. I have no doubt that the author has produced a wonderful work of educational literature, but it just didn’t click with me.
I spent most of my time skimming the book, instead of being focused on the content. It’s of course no fault of the author, but for me I think it just felt a little dry and uninspiring. I gave up halfway, even though I tried my genuine hardest to get through the whole novel. It’s a pity though, because I’ve seen this book get raving reviews, but it just didn’t get a good review from me.
There’s nothing much to say about this, aside from the fact that it felt absolutely dull and uninspired. I wouldn’t reread it in future, and neither would I recommend it to a friend. There are a lot more books out there that shed light on the BLM movement that would be a lot better use of my time.
I spent most of my time skimming the book, instead of being focused on the content. It’s of course no fault of the author, but for me I think it just felt a little dry and uninspiring. I gave up halfway, even though I tried my genuine hardest to get through the whole novel. It’s a pity though, because I’ve seen this book get raving reviews, but it just didn’t get a good review from me.
There’s nothing much to say about this, aside from the fact that it felt absolutely dull and uninspired. I wouldn’t reread it in future, and neither would I recommend it to a friend. There are a lot more books out there that shed light on the BLM movement that would be a lot better use of my time.
essinink's review against another edition
5.0
It's no secret that the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. It's equally undisputed that our prison population is disproportionately black and brown. What continues to be argued is why.
There's plenty of discussion to be had at the surface about drug laws and institutional racism, but with only 20% of U.S. prisoners in on drug offenses, and few of those meeting the criteria for the prototypical 'non-violent drug offender' of most arguments, Forman is not content to stop there. Digging into history, he explores the slow accumulation of seemingly-minor policy decisions, each arising in response to unmistakable problems and struggles, as they snowballed into today's system.
Forman argues that the diffuse nature of the criminal justice system is itself the driving factor behind the high incarceration rate. Using the history of majority-black Washington, D.C. as a framework, he sets out to explain the actions and motivations of Black citizens and leaders in urban America, as well as the enduring impact of the choices made from the 1960s onward. Taking a chrono-topical approach, each chapter explores a distinct moment/problem in D.C. history (heroin, handguns, police integration, the crack epidemic, stop & frisk, etc.), framed by anecdotes from Forman's experience as a public defender that illustrate the long-term impact of decisions made at each of his chosen crossroads.
I found this approach both balanced and accessible. The historical sections were objective, and the framing stories more illustrative than emotionally manipulative. (Although some may not agree with me in that assessment). His work is exhaustively cited; the last 100 pages or so are endnotes--some with enlightening commentary--and an index. (Those who would have preferred a separate bibliography will be disappointed.)
Of particular interest to me was his attentiveness to gun control arguments. It's not something I've previously seen addressed in this context, and was enlightening reading--not only with regard to mass incarceration--but also for understanding the history of the gun control debate in itself. So much of today's debate focuses on the spectacle of mass shootings, but the roots of the debate are far more complex. By examining the 1980s intersection of guns, drugs, and violence in urban environments, he's added to the dialogue of all the individual factors.
He closes on a hopeful note, throwing out a handful of suggestions for a better system, but mostly pointing out that the upside of a diffuse criminal justice system is that attention to state and local politics does make a difference. And if he shies from detailed discussion of action plans or policy changes... well, that was never the goal of this book. (He does discuss such things elsewhere.)
It's easy to strip history down to buzzwords, but rarely worthwhile in the long run. But by understanding how and why we came to this point, we can initiate meaningful discussion to decide how to move forward from here. Overall, definitely a worthwhile read to anyone seeking a balanced and readable discussion of historical factors related to mass incarceration.
There's plenty of discussion to be had at the surface about drug laws and institutional racism, but with only 20% of U.S. prisoners in on drug offenses, and few of those meeting the criteria for the prototypical 'non-violent drug offender' of most arguments, Forman is not content to stop there. Digging into history, he explores the slow accumulation of seemingly-minor policy decisions, each arising in response to unmistakable problems and struggles, as they snowballed into today's system.
Forman argues that the diffuse nature of the criminal justice system is itself the driving factor behind the high incarceration rate. Using the history of majority-black Washington, D.C. as a framework, he sets out to explain the actions and motivations of Black citizens and leaders in urban America, as well as the enduring impact of the choices made from the 1960s onward. Taking a chrono-topical approach, each chapter explores a distinct moment/problem in D.C. history (heroin, handguns, police integration, the crack epidemic, stop & frisk, etc.), framed by anecdotes from Forman's experience as a public defender that illustrate the long-term impact of decisions made at each of his chosen crossroads.
I found this approach both balanced and accessible. The historical sections were objective, and the framing stories more illustrative than emotionally manipulative. (Although some may not agree with me in that assessment). His work is exhaustively cited; the last 100 pages or so are endnotes--some with enlightening commentary--and an index. (Those who would have preferred a separate bibliography will be disappointed.)
Of particular interest to me was his attentiveness to gun control arguments. It's not something I've previously seen addressed in this context, and was enlightening reading--not only with regard to mass incarceration--but also for understanding the history of the gun control debate in itself. So much of today's debate focuses on the spectacle of mass shootings, but the roots of the debate are far more complex. By examining the 1980s intersection of guns, drugs, and violence in urban environments, he's added to the dialogue of all the individual factors.
He closes on a hopeful note, throwing out a handful of suggestions for a better system, but mostly pointing out that the upside of a diffuse criminal justice system is that attention to state and local politics does make a difference. And if he shies from detailed discussion of action plans or policy changes... well, that was never the goal of this book. (He does discuss such things elsewhere.)
It's easy to strip history down to buzzwords, but rarely worthwhile in the long run. But by understanding how and why we came to this point, we can initiate meaningful discussion to decide how to move forward from here. Overall, definitely a worthwhile read to anyone seeking a balanced and readable discussion of historical factors related to mass incarceration.
jg12389's review
4.0
Even though I feel that this book largely advocates for reforms to our prison nation and I want nothing less than the complete abolition of these systems, I think this is still an important history and look at how we've dealt with our criminal legal system in the past (and present). I appreciate how the author weaves in lots of facts and figures along with personal stories that just really connect you to these issues that can seem very far away to a white middle-class person like myself. I think this is a worthwhile read for sure!