A Pound of Flesh: Monetary sanctions as punishment for the poor by Alexes Harris. I saw an advertisement for this book in one of the magazines I read. I cannot remember which. At the time, however, I was talking with my youngest about the poverty problem in Baltimore and how it might be addressed. This book seemed relevant. The Russel Sage Foundation published this book and sponsored the research. The Foundation has an interesting history and looks like a reliable place to look for information on poverty and solutions on societal ills that involved the poor and disenfranchised.
Started: 4/12/2019
Completed: 4/21/2019
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody
Words for which I sought help:
liminal -- relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process
Review:
"The linkage between criminal justice and social control institutions that overselect for the poor for people of color remains embedded in US criminal justice practices." This book is really well researched. It is shocking the degree to which monetary payments, identified as a minimum in sentencing guidelines, cripple swathes of the population. It just takes me aback and reminds me of both the company store and debtor's prison. How is it that our society finds these things acceptable?
This book is remarkably hard to read as an American. When did "restitution" become an important part of the judicial system and how did "restitution" come to mean paying for the legal process? Really, what is wrong with our society?
"The linkage between criminal justice and social control institutions that overselect for the poor for people of color remains embedded in US criminal justice practices." This book is really well researched. It is shocking the degree to which monetary payments, identified as a minimum in sentencing guidelines, cripple swathes of the population. It just takes me aback and reminds me of both the company store and debtor's prison. How is it that our society finds these things acceptable?
This book is remarkably hard to read as an American. When did "restitution" become an important part of the judicial system and how did "restitution" come to mean paying for the legal process? Really, what is wrong with our society?
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