The Politics of Injustice: Crime and Punishment in America

by Katherine Beckett and Theodore Sasson

Book Overview

The U.S. crime rate has dropped steadily for more than a decade, yet the rate of incarceration continues to skyrocket. Today, more than 2 million Americans are locked in prisons and jails with devastating consequences for poor families and communities, overcrowded institutions and overburdened taxpayers. How did the U.S. become the world's leader in incarceration? Why have the numbers of women, juveniles, and people of color increased especially...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761929940
• ISBN13: 9780761929949
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Comprehensive Coverage, But Heavy-Handed Bias

The book takes on the ambitious (and useful) task of analyzing America's political and legislative responses to crime. Where it is strong is analyzing broad trends and recording the themes, policies, and actors that have impacted federal policy and the national debate on crime. Where it is less strong is in developing its thesis that prevention should play a larger policy role than "tough on crime" enforcement policies. Its constant filtering of the data along these lines detracts from the information provided as the reader never receives the opportunity to come to his/her own conclusions before heavy-handed author commentary in each chapter. Also, the book is weak in its attempt to fully portray recent innovations in policing and corrections. Still, it presents an easy to read outline of the history of criminal justice policy and is sure to educate its readers.

Wonderful Expressions!

I LOVED the book myself! Wish I had written it! Got straight to the point, AND made a lot of sense.