A groundbreaking examination of our system of imprisonment, revealing the true causes of mass. Its a measure of the success of the movement against mass incarceration that john pfaff calls the analysis first laid out in michelle alexanders. This is a fantastic and eyeopening book about the causes of mass incarceration in the united states. Locked in solidarity christian community development. Jan 09, 2018 fordham university law professor john pfaff presents a talk based on his 2016 book locked in. If sentence lengths had increased, the two lines would diverge as admissions outpaced releases. Apr 29, 2014 mass incarceration is a massive system of racial and social control. It is the process by which people are swept into the criminal justice system, branded criminals and felons, locked up for. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is prevalent among other minorities and socioeconomically. A succinct, powerful explanation of why much of what we think about the. Professor john pfaffs book locked in, about mass incarceration, was featured on in locked in basic books, the fordham law professor takes a hard look at the prevailing narrative about americas unparalleled boom in incarceration, then compares it with the actual data underlying the spike. Fordham university law professor john pfaff presents a talk based on his 2016 book locked in. A book that will be instantly integral to solving one of the countrys most important challenges.
Professor john pfaff talked about his book locked in. May 25, 2016 the term mass incarceration refers to the unique way the u. John pfaff is a professor of law at fordham university, where he teaches criminal law, sentencing law, and law and economics. Pfaff concludes the book with a chapter laying out strategies for reducing mass incarcerationmore of a menu than a playbook. The true causes of mass incarcerationand how to achieve real reform. How we misunderstand mass incarceration a new book argues that, in the effort to fix the prison epidemic, we are addressing the wrong things and missing the true problem. In recent years, the horror of what americans have done to other americansand particularly white americans to black americanshas led to a steady, engaged antiprison polemic, one with many authors singing more or less in unison. Michelle alexander, in the new jim crow, her seminal book on mass incarceration blames the war on drugs, launched by the us government in the 1970s or 80s, depending on whom you ask, for filling up us prisons. Locked in the true causes of mass incarcerationand how to. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform is filled with insights like this, illuminating the deep structural factors behind americas mass incarceration problem. In his book locked in, john pfaffa leader in the decarceration movementplotted state prison admissions and releases from 1978 through 2014 on a graph. Ergo, he suggests, mass incarceration is a myth and not something we should be worried about. The naivete of the standard story signals that this book is written, not for criminologists, but for the many lay intellectuals who may have been hooked by the standard story.
Pfaff, a professor of law at fordham, calls this choired voice in which this writer has been a. The toll of mass incarceration on students children with imprisoned siblings or parents often suffer silently, but schools can help students confront the stigma and trauma. The term mass incarceration refers to the unique way the u. Having spent 15 years studying the data on imprisonment, john pfaff takes apart the reigning consensus created by michelle alexander and other reformers, revealing that the most widely accepted explanations. Why you cant blame mass incarceration on the war on drugs vox. The true causes of mass incarcerationand how to achieve real reform ebook written by john pfaff. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform by john pfaff online at alibris. The true causes of mass incarcerationand how to achieve real reform 2017.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform at john jay college on november. The truth is, no one knows exactly how many people should be locked up at any given time. How to achieve real criminal justice reform, despite. Dec 09, 2016 a groundbreaking examination of the u. The true causes of mass incarcerationand how to achieve real reform, in which he examines the impact of criminal justice reforms on prisons. A groundbreaking reassessment of the american prison system, challenging the widely accepted explanations for our exploding incarceration ratesin locked in, john pfaff argues that the factors most commonly cited to explain mass incarceration the failed war on drugs, draconian sentencing laws, an increasing reliance on private prisons tell us much less than we think. A professor of law at fordham, pfaff doesnt cherrypick data to support some a priori theory. Locked in, a new book by criminologist john pfaff questions the. In a nutshell, because we lock up fewer people than actually commit crimes, and we dont overpunish by locking them up for too long. It is a question that has taken on urgency in recent years, as states slowly and haltingly start to try reining in their reliance on incarceration. This year we have expanded locked in solidarity to a week long opportunity for us to create the space needed to listen to stories of people in our communities who are directly impacted, to learn about the greater impact of mass incarceration, to pray, and to engage public sector officials who have the power and position to impact change.
A groundbreaking examination of our system of imprisonment, revealing the true causes of mass incarceration as well as the best path to reform. The new movement to transform american prosecution and end mass incarceration grabs for the heart. How did the united states end up with so many people in prison. Locked in is the best book on the topic that ive read and an essential rejoinder to narratives that emphasize the war on drugs and mandatory minimums. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform, in which he examines the impact of criminal justice reforms on prisons. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform provides a groundbreaking examination of the us system of imprisonment, arguing that mid1990s changes in. The most influential criminal justice book of this decade, michelle alexanders the new jim crow, concluded that the war on drugs was central to the curse of mass incarceration. On september 27, the national book foundation announced the establishment of its new literature for justice program lfj, which will highlight 15. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform 2017, proffers an understanding of why the ruling narrative on mass incarceration reform breaks down under scrutiny before offering theoretical solutions for. That is why john pfaffs locked in is such an important book. Pfaff analyzes why america incarcerates more people than ever even as crime rates continue to fall.
In the first book, he tells us that nearly everything we have been told about socalled mass incarceration by his fellow reform advocates is false. Distinguished economic historian, peter temin, talks us through some of his favourite books. John pfaff gives us two books under one cover in locked in. You may not agree with everything that pfaff argues, but you will finish the book with a better understanding of the complexity of the problem and the need for solutions. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve. While pfaff sees himself as something of a political moderate, it is exactly that kind of analysis that makes his book.
Everything you know about mass incarceration is wrong. Thats what john pfaff, a law professor at fordham university in new york, calls the standard story of mass incarceration. Mass incarceration is a massive system of racial and social control. The best books on race and american policing, recommended by joe domanick. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read locked in. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform is probably the best book on socalled mass incarceration to date. A groundbreaking examination of our system of imprisonment, revealing the true causes of mass incarceration as well as the best path to reform the united states, home to about 5 percent of the worlds population, holds nearly 25 percent of its prisoners. Likewise, among the ranks of experienced prison reform advocates, nobody claims that private prisons are a major perpetrator of mass incarceration. Pfaff shares their aversion to mass incarceration but wants them to see what it will really take to do something about the problem. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform, is the product of over 10 years wrestling with one simpleseeming question. If there is a takehome message from pfaffs book, it is that the problem of mass incarceration is massive and complicated, that it is a state rather than federal problem, that solutions must come from state and county governments, and that they involve changing public attitudes about balancing the costs of crime and the costs of punishment. But in pfaffs book, he contends the drug war is important but unequivocally secondary to other factors. The true causes of mass incarcerationand how to achieve real reform kindle edition by pfaff, john. How to achieve real reform 2017, proffers an understanding of why the ruling.
Missing daddy, a childrens book by mariame kaba, profiles the emotions a little girl. But in his new book locked in, pfaff offers a different account. His analysis of the driving forces of mass incarceration, backed up by detailed statistical analysis, is fairly compelling and makes the book worth reading. Feb 07, 2017 if there is a takehome message from pfaffs book, it is that the problem of mass incarceration is massive and complicated, that it is a state rather than federal problem, that solutions must come from state and county governments, and that they involve changing public attitudes about balancing the costs of crime and the costs of punishment. Jul 31, 2019 nor have sentences gotten longer, as reformers contend. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform, john f. Wrong, wrong, and wrong, writes john pfaff, an economist and professor of law at fordham school of law, in his provocative new book, locked in. It is a question that has taken on urgency in recent years, as states slowly and haltingly start to try reining in. The fight against mass incarceration in the united states is no exception to this rule.
The united states has more people locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers than any other country in the history of the world. His bigthree targets are prosecutors, people convicted of violent crime and the politics of justice. Pfaffs objections to the accepted story about mass incarceration boil down to two main points. After civil rights lawyer michelle alexander published her book the new jim crow in 2010 on our dehumanizing system of incarceration, she ignited a. His own latest book, the vanishing middle class, charts americas regression towards a preindustrial society. How we misunderstand mass incarceration the new yorker. The true causes of mass incarcerationand how to achieve real reform pfaff, john on. Exploring the history and foundations of mass incarceration, dominique gilliard examines christianitys role in its evolution and expansion, assessing justice in light of scripture, and showing how christians can pursue justice that restores and reconciles.
In locked in, john pfaff argues that the factors most commonly cited to explain mass incarceration the failed war on drugs, draconian sentencing laws, an increasing reliance on private prisons tell us much less than we think. Locked in is a refreshing look at the causes of mass incarceration, and is a mustread for anyone involved in the criminal justice reform movement. Locked in is a game changer for those who care about the crisis of mass incarceration if you want to change how we imprison people, you have to read this book. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is. Prison reform, in this readers opinion, stands alongside immigration, education and regulation reform as among the most important policy challenges facing the nation today. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform by john pfaff basic, 272 pp. Everything you think you know about mass incarceration is wrong. Instead, pfaff urges us to look at other factors, especially a major shift in prosecutor behavior that occurred in the mid1990s, when prosecutors began bringing felony charges against arrestees about twice as often as they had before. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a book by michelle alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar. In the vast majority of cases, pfaff observed, in his book locked in. Mass incarceration, why prison reform is so sorely needed, has gained bipartisan popularity in recent years. Dec 20, 20 after civil rights lawyer michelle alexander published her book the new jim crow in 2010 on our dehumanizing system of incarceration, she ignited a national conversation about justice in america.
The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform 2017, proffers an understanding of why the ruling narrative on mass incarceration reform breaks down under scrutiny before offering theoretical solutions for research on and advocacy for reform options. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform, fordham university criminal justice expert john pfaff offers a trove of evidence that this. The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform, by john f. Mass incarceration five books expert recommendations. Nor have sentences gotten longer, as reformers contend. Learn more about great on kindle, available in select categories. There is a growing consensus that american mass incarceration is not only wrong but a moral abomination. Locked in the true causes of mass incarceration and how. Everything you think you know about mass incarceration is. How to achieve real criminal justice reform, despite president trump. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading locked in. Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the kindle edition of this book. Phillip atiba goff, president of the center for policing equity and professor at the john jay college of criminal justice. This year we have expanded locked in solidarity to a week long opportunity for us to create the space needed to listen to stories of people in our.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Locked in is a revelatory investigation into the root causes of mass incarceration by one of the most exciting scholars in the country. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander. With an incarceration rate exceeding 700 people for every 100,000, americans have built a monstrosity that has few parallels in history destroying untold millions of lives and families in just a few decades. An authoritative, cleareyed account of the root causes of mass incarceration, locked in ultimately forces us to reconsider what we must to do build a more equitable and humane society.
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