Book reviews: Decarceration a flawed, dangerous strategy

Supervisor Ellenberg and other decarceration advocates might want to spend some time with Rafael A. Mangual's 2022 book Criminal (In)Justice, as it offers acute critiques of the jailbreak policies floated by some fringe local politicos. A collection of comments on Mangual's book, below.

This book takes apart the progressive argument that mass incarceration is driven by the War on Drugs and unfairly targets Black citizens. It is comprehensive, data driven, and yet highly approachable. The book refutes many of the myths laid out by people like Michelle Alexander that the US over incarcerates its citizens. The drop in crime in the 1990s was due mainly to getting violent felons off the streets. Its best point is that the US has many more criminals than other western nations and that our incarceration is not out of line. To his credit, the author admits reforms are needed to both policing and the prison system, but simply letting bad guys out of prison is not the answer.

– Teacherman 1024

Lays out the common sense case that, instead of being some fundamental injustice, policing and incarceration are in fact too scarce.

– Piyo

Reading the news doesn't have to be like serving time. It can even be—dare we say it—exciting. Click HERE to check out more Opp Now coverage.

As of 12/31/2018, more than 60% of state prisoners were primarily incarcerated for a violent (55.5%) or weapons (4.6%) offense. Just 14.1% were incarcerated primarily for a drug offense - primarily for trafficking (not possession - that only accounts for < 4% of state prison populations.) About 95% of state criminal cases are resolved via plea bargain. A DOJ report released in 2018 shows the median amount of time served is about 15 months, less than 30 months for a violent offense. The average state prisoner serves just 44% of his sentence; 42% released in less than a year.

Within 5 years of their initial releases, between 70.8% and 77% reoffend at least once. Looking at the 2008 cohort, at year 10 between 56.1 and 89.1% of prisoners in every age group except those 65 or older generated at least one post-release arrest. Those 65 or older at time of release - 40% rearrested at least once. Overall, 81.9% of the 2008 cohort and 83.4% of the 2005 cohort during observation periods of 10 and 9 years, respectively. Just under 40% rearrested for crimes of violence. Over the 10-year observation period, the 2008 cohort generated an average of 5.4 arrests over a decade, and the 2005 cohort an average of 5.0 over the next 9 years. Federal prisoner recidivism rates are similar - highest for firearms-related offenses.

– Loyd Eskildson

Everyone knows that statistics can be skewed, they need context. This book gives context and the writer is open with his own worldview that might influence interpretation of his research. Sound read and a much needed addition in the conflictal [sic] social political America that we have become.

– Amazon Customer

These reviews originally appeared in Amazon. Read all the reviews here.

Follow Opportunity Now on Twitter @svopportunity

Opp Now enthusiastically welcomes smart, thoughtful, fair-minded, well-written comments from our readers. But be advised: we have zero interest in posting rants, ad hominems, poorly-argued screeds, transparently partisan yack, or the hateful name-calling often seen on other local websites. So if you've got a great idea that will add to the conversation, please send it in. If you're trolling or shilling for a candidate or initiative, forget it.