Rebecca answers “Why does your summary of "Locked In" say...”

Phyllis M. asked this question about Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration and How to Achieve Real Reform:

Why does your summary of "Locked In" say that Michele Alexander's thesis of her book is false? Pfaff's article in "The University of Chicago Magazine does not mention "The New Jim Crow." I have not read "Locked In" yet, but I will. I have read "New JC," several times. The historical Context justifies her conclusions, even though black violent crime is high. Feeling hopelessly opposed often leads to being "fed up."

Rebecca A lot of criminal justice activists, including people on the left have been disputing elements of Alexander's argument about the importance of non-vio…moreA lot of criminal justice activists, including people on the left have been disputing elements of Alexander's argument about the importance of non-violent drug crimes to the prison population growth to no avail because the book has caught people's imaginations. On this point, see other books by activists and scholars, including Ruthie Gilmore, Craig Gilmore (whose work Pfaff does not cite but should), James Kilgore, Marie Gottschalk (cited in Pfaff) . Jonathan Simon has also been writing about aggressive prosecutors for a long time. Here's a piece by Ruthie Gilmore: http://www.socialjusticejournal.org/t...(less)

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