Publishers Weekly, the international news website of book publishing and bookselling, has reviewed the new book from Rachel E. Barkow of NYU Law. Prisoners of Politics: Breaking the Cycle of Mass Incarceration, discusses the U.S. as the world leader in incarceration rates and argues for an institutional shift toward data and expertise, following the model used to set food and workplace safety rules.
The following is an excerpt from the review:
“Because sentencing minimums and prisons focus more on retribution than rehabilitation, she writes, long sentences (which don’t reduce crime) are typical and incarcerated people are not properly prepared for reentry, making them more likely to commit additional crimes. Barkow argues for a multifaceted approach to reform: reconceive the roles of prosecutors and mandatory minimum sentencing; use experts for data-backed criminal justice policymaking and resource allocation; and offer education, mental health, and employment programs to incarcerated people to facilitate their reentry.”
Read the full piece here.