So appreciated this book for its exploration of harmful prison reforms that may seem beneficial yet continue to enact harm. While more people have gained awareness about the racist awfulness of mass incarceration due to books like Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow and films like 13th, I feel lik ...more
Truly excellent, well written, and comprehensive overview of the physical and invisible structures that make up the modern prison nation, and the dangers of many reforms that further entrench these institutions in our society. The book uses personal stories and data to make a powerful case against p ...more
I really appreciated this book. The book helped me to more clearly understand the pervasive nature of surveillance, policing, and punishment. The book is a little dry in spots, but mostly super engaging and interesting. ...more
I just this minute out this down. I am blown away! I don’t agree with all the points they make (that would be boring), but every page makes you think—and the whole thing is really well written, very approachable, not at all “academic.”
The book can be broken down into three parts: the introduction, w ...more
Good for abolitionists who want to start getting a bit more in the weeds about non-prison carceral punishments. I knew very little about probation, mandated/forced treatment programs, or electronic monitoring before this book, and I think it was a great primer on these and other faces of the PIC. ...more
extremely insightful look at how many reforms/alternative to prisons are just another extension of the prison system..the authors made really effective use of interviews and first hand accounts from people who experiences harm and violences from the various parts of the carceral state..especially Ie ...more
"Instead of widening the net of the prison industrial complex, we need to widen a different net—the safety net." At a time that the phrase "Abolish prisons" is reaching the mainstream, this book is a really useful exploration of why it is incarceration and punishment-control systems that need to be r ...more
Super insightful and well-written. I love that the authors included people with lived experiences for every type of “alternative” to incarceration that they examined. ...more
Perfectly timed, Prison By Any Other Name is an in-depth review of all forms of incarceration in the US, and why the system needs to be completely overhauled, by focusing on harmful reforms. The authors provide important information on how certain reforms over the years are really only “reforms” in ...more
This was a really solid, thorough assessment of prison alternatives. I think these are very, very important topics -- taking a real critical look at things like mandated drug treatment and electronic monitoring rather than just settling because "at least it's better than prison." A bit too radical a ...more
While there wasn't too much for me in regards to having new revelations from this book, I still appreciated the personal stories and thoughts around how these "kinder prisons" affect people's lives.
When thinking about ways to change the justice system, everything needs to go back to three main ques ...more
A hugely important book to read for folks looking and thinking about alternatives to incarceration and the ways that most of the "reforms" that are being currently offered are in fact functionally the same as prison and may, in some cases, be worse in terms of stretching out a person's punishment fo ...more