How can it be; in a nation that elected Barack Obama; that one third of African American males born in 2001 will spend time in a state or federal prison; and that black men are seven times likelier than white men to be in prison? Blacks are much more likely than whites to be stopped by the police; arrested; prosecuted; convicted; and imprisoned; and are much less likely to have confidence in justice system officials; especially the police. In Punishing Race; Michael Tonry demonstrates in lucid; accessible language that these patterns result not from racial differences in crime or drug use but primarily from drug and crime control policies that disproportionately affect black Americans. These policies in turn stem from a lack of white empathy for black people; and from racial stereotypes and resentments provoked partly by the Republican Southern Strategy of using coded "law and order" appeals to race to gain support from white voters. White Americans; Tonry observes; have a remarkable capacity to endure the suffering of disadvantaged black and; increasingly; Hispanic men. Crime policies are among a set of social policies enacted since the 1960s that have maintained white dominance over black people despite the end of legal discrimination. To redress these injustices; Tonry offers a number of proposals: stop racial profiling by the police; shift the emphasis of drug law enforcement to treatment and prevention; eliminate mandatory sentencing laws; and change sentencing guidelines to allow judges discretion to take account of offenders' life circumstances. Those proposals are all attainable and would all reduce unjustifiable racial disparities and the collateral human and social harms they cause.A damning indictment of decades of misguided criminal justice policy; Punishing Race takes a crucial look at persisting racial injustice in America.
#1448097 in Books Oxford University Press 2012-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.40 x .90 x 9.30l; .90 #File Name: 0199890935208 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A very good description from multiple viewpoints of what's happening on the ...By Sarah E.A very good description from multiple viewpoints of what's happening on the border in Arizona. I feel that the author was very fair in her presentation. A great read and also timely.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Scorpions aren't alone in the desertBy Zarr FamilyThis book helped me understand what is happening in our deserts daily. I cried; inspired and became engaged to make a difference0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. brings common sense to a complicated issue but no resolutionBy Roberto G PerezAnanda Rose writes a compelling story of frustration; hardship; sacrifice; help and death. Showdown is a story of a battle that we are in the midst of and leaves you feeling more compassionate of both sides of the war.
