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gretatimaite's review
4.0
I'll be honest, I struggle to imagine a society free of prisons. But I want to, at least I hope that prison industrial system, privatization of prisons and abuse and discrimination of prisoners stop. It's shocking to think that private corporations profit from inmates and even worse that we end up consuming the goods. It's hard to know who exactly is profiting as some have links with contractors that use prison labour. Nevertheless, some examples of companies that used (or maybe still uses? Couldn't find reliable information) are Starbucks and Victoria Secret. Bye to both, glad I've never bought anything from VS.
Davis' book doesn't directly engage with these examples but it's hard not to google after reading about the prison industrial system. Prison's links to slavery, racism, gender, class, and the idea of punishment. About the pervasiveness of capitalism that I doubt leaves anyone untouched. And that tackling only odd bits is not enough:
'One conclusion to be drawn is that even if private prison companies were prohibited - an unlikely prospect, indeed - the prison industrial complex and its many strategies for profit would remain relatively intact.' (99)
So read it if you want to be challenged, if you want to try and imagine a different society in which justice system is a bit fairer. While she won't give you a definite to-do list on how to create a world free of prisons but it gives encouragement to think of it*. Davis notes that if we are to think of prison abolition, we need not focus only on the prison system but also 'all the social relations that support the permanence of the prison.' (112) This is crucial. It's intersectional.
* Davis engages a little bit with the possible alternatives, such as reconciliation and restorative justice, but these are the options. So, I reckon, prison abolition is a process that might develop differently in different contexts.
Davis' book doesn't directly engage with these examples but it's hard not to google after reading about the prison industrial system. Prison's links to slavery, racism, gender, class, and the idea of punishment. About the pervasiveness of capitalism that I doubt leaves anyone untouched. And that tackling only odd bits is not enough:
'One conclusion to be drawn is that even if private prison companies were prohibited - an unlikely prospect, indeed - the prison industrial complex and its many strategies for profit would remain relatively intact.' (99)
So read it if you want to be challenged, if you want to try and imagine a different society in which justice system is a bit fairer. While she won't give you a definite to-do list on how to create a world free of prisons but it gives encouragement to think of it*. Davis notes that if we are to think of prison abolition, we need not focus only on the prison system but also 'all the social relations that support the permanence of the prison.' (112) This is crucial. It's intersectional.
* Davis engages a little bit with the possible alternatives, such as reconciliation and restorative justice, but these are the options. So, I reckon, prison abolition is a process that might develop differently in different contexts.
julianam's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
Moderate: Police brutality
cummunism's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
ethanwheel's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
genereads2's review
5.0
The critiques I had of Freedom is a Constant Struggle are addressed here. Davis gives a thoroughly researched essay on the history of prisons, how gender structures the prison system, and the prison industrial complex with examples and case studies. My only regret is that she saves alternatives for the end, and I actually do wish she addressed the persistent question of “What will happen to the rapists and murderers?” Still, I think this book provides a good introduction for readers to do the ideological work of grappling with prison as a punishment system today and what a prison-less world can look like.