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tommyhousworth's review
4.0
This reads as an encyclopedic, yet passionately opinionated overview of material that is covered with greater depth in "The New Jim Crow" and the masterful documentary "13th" directed by Ava Duvernay ("Selma").
It's eye-opening information about how the industrialized prison program operates and how it has failed. Reagan's War on Drugs and Clinton's criminalization policies are brought into light as crushing missteps in efforts to retain power instead of address the root causes of crime in minority communities.
If you are of the "lock em up and throw away the key" mentality, you should give this book a chance to open another perspective for you.
It's also worth mentioning that the illustrations in this book are stark and powerful. They add a lot to the reading experience, creating something between a graphic novel and an expose highlighted by street art.
It's eye-opening information about how the industrialized prison program operates and how it has failed. Reagan's War on Drugs and Clinton's criminalization policies are brought into light as crushing missteps in efforts to retain power instead of address the root causes of crime in minority communities.
If you are of the "lock em up and throw away the key" mentality, you should give this book a chance to open another perspective for you.
It's also worth mentioning that the illustrations in this book are stark and powerful. They add a lot to the reading experience, creating something between a graphic novel and an expose highlighted by street art.
sinsunday's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This book served to give a very brief and surface level introduction to the PIC. It gives out some very important information but I find that the literature does not try to convince the reader - you already have to come in with a certain open mindedness to the ideas presented. Overall would recommend to someone that doesn't know where to start on this topic, but further reading and education is needed after this to get a full understanding, which I think is the point of the book. I am a little dissapointed in how it kept such an 'inside the system' perspective for reworking the system that allows for PIC to happen - I think a lot of big factors - like politicians receiving bribes or 'campaign donations' for their cooperation - pretty much undiscussed. The book also wrongly assumes that judges are not biased, that reducing prosecuter power and leaving decisions up to a judge will ensure fair outcome. While im sure it will reduce bias, it will never heal it completely. This book settles for a lot of compromises, for small measures of progress, which in our current situation I understand, but it should be teaching readers that we can aim for more. No more settling.
indielitttttt's review
5.0
Well folks, this one was phenomenal. This is a whole college class condensed into 129 info packed pages. This beginner guide hits all the major points of the PIC, explains them, and offers further reading suggestions. It’s split into sections that are helpful in organizing complex aspects of the PIC. The illustrations are incredibly topical and well done, they enhance the learning experience. The book also includes a whole syllabus and reading guide. This is a great tool for beginners, but also for folks who may be a bit more seasoned.
5/5⭐️
5/5⭐️
jamiereadthis's review
4.0
What it says on the tin. Not much new here that I haven’t read at length elsewhere, except for some heartbreaking statistics, but I still highlighted a ton because it’s a damn fine summary of how law and order really works. (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.)
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