I'll be the first to admit that, before this book, I was one of the people who looked at criminals- especially murderers- and fully believed that they do not deserve a second chance. But then I found myself rooting for Johnny Veale and tearing up when he was paroled. This book will make you look at the justice system in a completely new light. I can no longer say that criminals belong in jail as a black and white statement, but rather, as Ben Austen repeated time and time again in different ways, it depends on the person. I can't wait to read more from Austen.

This is an informative and generally convincing read. I appreciated the way Austen utilized portraits of specific individuals to illustrate the humanity and dignity of incarcerated people, and their dreams of a better life - without minimizing the harm caused by their crimes. I had strong opinions about incarceration and parole going into this book, and it is to Austen's credit that this book challenged some of my beliefs. While I still have unanswered questions, this book has given me good food for thought and is a great starting point for further reading on the topic. The book was well-written, illuminating, and engaging - and as I listened to the audiobook, I will also add that I thought the narrator was great, though I had the audio on 1.5 speed.

Even though I felt that information was occasionally used in a potentially misleading way (conflating correlation with causation), it did not affect the author's main points. The book also felt a little too long as it felt repetitive in places. Overall, still a very worthwhile and illuminating read; it's a 4.5 star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for free access to the audiobook. I was not required to provide a positive review in exchange.

This is one that I didn’t finish but will pick up in print. I didn’t care for the narration which kept me from enjoying this one.

This was an exceptional book. We are taken through the history of the criminal justice system in America, the good, the bad and the ugly. It is a system that has always been flawed. More importantly, we are told the stories of two individuals who were locked up for over 50 years each. These stories were not only heartbreaking, but inspiring. These men grew and changed and evolved as human beings in prison. They fought for their life to have meaning and purpose no matter their setting. After learning about the Innocence Project in college, I’ve taken an interest into how deeply flawed the system is. This book really is very eye-opening and informational. It is so well written and easy to understand. I think everyone could benefit from reading it. The author does state some political views throughout, and it’s no secret which way he falls so it is not written from a completely unbiased point of view. All in all, even if you don’t follow his beliefs, it is of great benefit to read all the way through. The audio version was excellent and not dry or monotone at all like I feared. The narrator was perfect. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Acclaimed journalist Ben Austen turns his critical eye to the American prison system. In Correction, he tells the story of parole through the cases of two men imprisoned for murder, and what America really means by “if you do the crime, you do the time.”

This book feels like a paradigm shift. It’s the new The New Jim Crow, the new Evicted. This should be on the shelves of every justice-minded American and every prison abolitionist. Not only is this book meticulously researched and reported, it also never shies away from making an ideological case against mass incarceration, and particularly against the current arbitrary and cruel system of sentencing and parole. Despite the difficult and often convoluted topic, Austen never fails to engage the reader in both the sociocultural story of parole and the very personal, emotional stories of Michael and Johnny, two men in their 60s who have been locked up since they were teenagers. This shining achievement deserves 5 out of 5 votes to parole.

Review of the book:
5 stars
This is a great look at the justice, penitentiary and parole systems in the United States.
The reader does not need any previous knowledge of the topic to fully grasp everything discussed in this book.
Austen addresses paints the portrait of all the major problems with the current state of sentences and parole in the country by covering the history of parole and describing with facts how the laws and guidelines changed, and explains how it affects people's lives by giving us many examples, telling the story of incarcerated people. There is a good balance of big picture and personal stories.
This book could be a good first touch with the many issues surrounding prisons, or a good read about specifically the problems with parole for people already interested in ideas of reforming or abolishing prisons.

Review of the audiobook:
5 stars
The narrator's voice is clear and easy to understand up to 2.5x. It is clear who is talking when there are dialogues or conversations even though there is only one narrator.
The book is fully comprehensible in audio format.


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

So, I just finished "Correction" by Ben Austen, and let me tell you, it's a total eye-opener. We all know the U.S. locks up a crazy amount of people, but this book dives deep into the 'why' behind it. I mean, 25% of the world's inmates? That's nuts.

Austen takes us on a journey through the parole process, and it's not your typical ride. He tells the stories of two guys in prison for murder, making you see them as real people, not just statistics. It's like he's saying, "Look, these are the faces behind those numbers, and they've got stories too."

The questions he raises hit you hard. What's the deal with punishment? What's the end game of incarceration? Can someone who messed up big time ever really get a second chance? It's heavy stuff, but it's stuff we need to think about.

Austen's storytelling is raw and unapologetic, and he's done his homework. He makes you confront the big questions, even if you thought you had it all figured out. It's a wake-up call for our society's values and our ideas of retribution and redemption.

"Correction" is the kind of book that sticks with you. It's a fresh take on a super complicated issue, and it makes you question everything. If you're into understanding the whole crime, punishment, and justice reform scene, you've gotta read this. It's a must for anyone who wants to dig deep and explore the complex world of American incarceration.

• Correction: Parole and American Justice by Ben Austen
The entire American judicial system is trash and needs to be thrown out. We know this. Yet, we rarely hear the voices that are most impacted. With “Correction,” victims are central to his literary dismantling of the American judicial system. Ben Austen intensely examines everything from the capitalist politics of “making bail” to the discriminatory to unfair parole procedures. I expected to have to process a lot of dense stats and historical references, but Austen’s writing style in “Correction” relied heavily on storytelling and state and federal procedures. It was easy to read and hard to put down.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5862228722

This is an absolutely fantastic book on the depressing state of the U.S. prison and parole system. This book is written in a way that is completely understandable to someone who has little to know knowledge of the system, but was still informative to me, a post-conviction attorney in Chicago, the state where most of the author's examples come from.

Ben Austen does a great job of looking at these examples from both an aerial and microscopic point of view. Austen follows numerous individuals, both in and out of prison, to give the reader a view of the hardships of obtaining parole and maintaining good status while out on parole.

This book should be required reading to anyone who lives in the United States to see just how horribly we treat our prisoners in a system (supposedly) meant for reform and rehabilitation. This book will be an angering read to those who approve of the carceral state, but I still think the information in this book is necessary if one wants to (honorably) maintain their viewpoints (knowledgably). Though I do not think anyone can finish this book and think that people who commit a violent crime in their youth should die of old age in prison (but that's my own opinion).

This book is SO well done on audio, and I would highly recommend it. The information is heavy, but written in a way that really works in audio format. The narrator is very easy to listen to, and is not monotone in any way shape to form. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is a reason this is a "most anticipated book of 2023." As an educator in the Criminal Justice field and someone with a deep knowledge of the system, I still found myself saying "wow, really?" during multiple parts of this book.

Correction: Parole, Prison, and the Possibility of Change follows the stories of two parole hopefuls who have been incarcerated for 50+ years after (alleged) crimes committed as very young adults. The stories are interspersed with information about the changes in the parole system over the years.

Austen does an excellent job of providing factual, UP-TO-DATE information. I, personally, find it difficult to find new information (think years 2022-2023) regarding the CJ system and impacts of COVID, etc. While the author clearly has his own opinion on the topic, I think he does a good job of maintaining neutrality while stating facts.

The audiobook narrator, Brett Barry, does an excellent job. There is a never a time when he is monotone or boring; the cadence of his voice kept me engaged. Although, I cannot be the only one who thinks "just deserts" is pronounced like "dessert" and not "desert."

This is absolutely a five-star read! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Everything about this read is exceptional. I went in with no expectations and left feeling better informed and happy with the structure of the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Correction: Parole, Prison, and the Possibility of Change by Ben Austen is a peek into the world of the American Criminal Justice System via the parole sector. Ben Austen shows the many flaws of our country's criminal justice system while focusing on one distinct part of it, and he does it so well. This non-fiction not only states facts, but it gives evidence through the eyes of people whose lives have actually been impacted and changed because of parole. I think this would be a great read for anyone in an educational system learning about criminal justice or anyone curious about the topic as this is such a digestible read.

A note on the narrator, Brett Barry. I feel like the stereotype for non-fiction audiobooks is that it will be monotoned and boring. This was not the case for Correction. Brett Barry's voice perfectly matches the tone of the book while being engaging. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Stating facts and opinions can be informative all day long, but Ben Austen's ability to portray what he wants to say while creating a wholly unique experience through a case study like approach was exceptional. It is mostly clear how the author stands on this subject, so don't expect a bias free read. But despite that, and partially because I also stand with a lot of the author's beliefs, this was a 5 star read. He is clearly knowledgeable on this subject, and with his firsthand experience in relation to how parole works in America, it was very educational.

I really enjoyed this audio book. It was easy to become deeply invested in these men, fighting for a second chance at life. The book Mahe you think long and hard about corrections, and our entire justice system. Learning about the inside battles & politics of parole hearings was troubling, to say the least. Overall, excellent read and one that everyone should pick up.

As someone who enjoys true crime and the processes "after the crime," Correction is an informative and striking read. A lot of the information in this book reminds me of podcasts or various NPR stories I have heard about parole, prisoner's rights, and the process of "rehabilitation" of criminals. In that, the stories and organization of information are unique and easy to follow. It's disheartening to hear the commonalities between all of these stories because it shows how much things have not changed and how tough it can be to get the system right. I love the wealth of information and efficient use of data throughout as well. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “Correction” in exchange for an honest review. I’m looking forward to reading this one a second time as it feels like one I will read again. It reminded me of “Just Mercy” in the way that it focuses on several individual people’s experiences and then widens the lens to explain how the law and society have colluded to affect the lives of these individuals. The questions posed are complex. What does justice really look like? What is the point of it all? What was the original intent of parole versus what it has morphed into?

4 stars.*

Last year, when I decided to dig deeper into the history of racism and my own personal part in understanding how it has impacted my country, our foundations, and so many of the fundamental things that make life happen, I became aware of the horrifying state of the Prison system. Most Americans were at least aware of the overcrowding but I am not sure I understood what it actually meant until I read stories about prisoners dying due to inadequate health care during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This book is a look at prisons as a whole, but more specifically through the lens of two Illinois inmates, both convicted of murder in the 1970s who were given indeterminate sentences at a time when parole was a given. Ben Austen sheds light on the changes to sentencing, policing, and parole over the past 50 years and makes it real and personal by telling us the real stories of two men who went from children to senior citizens entirely inside the walls of a prison.

No matter where you fall politically, this book is fascinating.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This was a comprehensively researched look at the parole system in America. Utilizing a couple of individual cases as illustration into a wider problem Austen presents a compelling story about the stresses and downfalls of the parole system. Well balance and engaging!

This was an incredibly interesting book to read and very eye-opening for me. I've never thought of parole as being anything other than something incarcerated individuals would want. I had no idea that, in many cases, it's just another way for the corrupt American justice system to further mistreat and ill-use incarcerated individuals -- particularly those of color.

I hate to use the same word twice, but when I say this book is eye-opening, that's precisely what I mean. Austen, the author, thoroughly explains how parole is actually detrimental to those seeking to get out of prison in a reasonable amount of time. What appears to be a "light at the end of the tunnel" is really just a train coming to hit incarcerated people full-force, so to speak.

He compares the American system of parole with other countries' justice systems and their way of managing crime and criminals -- through mandatory MAXIMUM sentences, actual reform programs that seek truly to reform, and more. I never realized how much more time some incarcerated people serve than they should have to simply because a parole board -- not the judge or regulations governing maximum sentences -- gets to decide their fate.

Don't get me wrong. The book wasn't entirely about the downsides of parole. It also highlights its positive aspects and provides ideas for improving the system so that it can be used in the way in which (most people think) it is intended. If you are even slightly interested in America's mass incarceration system and/or criminal justice reform, this is a must-read book. I really, really enjoyed it. It taught me a lot.

As for the audiobook aspect of the book, that was good, too. The narrator spoke clearly, and there was no background noise or shoddy audio. Everything flowed smoothly without jumpy or jagged editing and no mistakes in cutting the book together.

The narration style was slightly slower than I like, so I had to listen to the book on 1.75 speed. Still, I have no real complaints with the audio aspects of the book. The narrator does a great job of making what could easily become a tedious, slog-through-it subject engaging and entertaining.

A solid four-star book all-around.

4.5 stars. Fascinating and well-researched book, told in an engaging narrative structure. The narration was also excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Correction is a fascinating, infuriating, amazing book on the birth and evolution of the parole system, and the rise of over-incarceration, in the United States. Austen lays out the development and misuse of the parole system as he follows two inmates through their quest for parole for crimes that they committed as teenagers and have been in prison for for half a century. I was fully invested in following Michael and Johnny's stories from the get go and had to fight to stop myself from Googling their outcomes while I listened to everything unfold. I will most definitely be recommending this book to as many people as possible. A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books, and NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion. This is my favorite book of the year so far.