This book is an important read and a wake-up call to action! The book is divided into six sections, each representing a stage of the criminal justice system: police, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, prisons, and “aftermath,” or the lifelong consequences of having been imprisoned. There are a great variety of perspectives in the essays within each section. This is the perfect book for activists or communities to join together around a shared passion to advocate for change. I was fortunate to hear the editors speak and was able to ask them a question about how to best use this book - should we try to pull levers in all the areas (if we are thinking of how everything is connected and want to drive systemic change) and I thought there response was very helpful -- focus on the one area where you can join with others to make a difference (don't try to tackle all areas). This book is loaded with resources and ideas and offers multiple ways for us to get informed and involved in this critically important topic.

Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

Dismantling Mass Incarceration: A Handbook for Change by Premal Dharia, James Forman Jr., and Maria Hawilo is a comprehensive and action-oriented guide that offers a roadmap for addressing the injustices of mass incarceration in the United States. The authors, with extensive expertise in criminal justice reform, provide both theoretical analysis and practical tools for dismantling a system that has disproportionately affected marginalized communities.

The book examines the root causes of mass incarceration, from over-policing and sentencing laws to racial bias and economic inequality, and offers evidence-based strategies for reform. The contributors not only analyze the impact of mass incarceration but also advocate for restorative justice, alternatives to imprisonment, and policies that promote rehabilitation over punishment.

Dismantling Mass Incarceration is an essential resource for advocates, policymakers, and anyone committed to reforming the criminal justice system. It is a call to action for those who believe in a more equitable society, providing both a critical understanding of the problem and a hopeful vision for meaningful change.

This book is an excellent resource for anyone either new to the ideas of dismantling mass incarceration or who wants to learn more about all the different approaches and theories. I highly recommend it as a starting point to then find which part of the effort calls to you more in your activism.

Thank you NetGalley and FSG Originals for the opportunity to read this in advance. This book comes out on July 9th 2024.

Fascinating and very well researched. Didn't focus on criminal law in law school but I took a prisoner's rights class and will absolutely be reaching out to my professor to recommend this book for future classes.

Thought-provoking and insightful.
A thorough introduction to the massive, multi-layered and complex issue of mass incarceration in the United States. I found the diversity of eloquent perspectives in this book to be welcome, useful and fascinating. Highly recommended. It would be great for a book group/group discussions/teaching material, etc. but is also accessible to anyone with a modicum of interest in the topic.

I really loved this non fiction book. I learned so much about intstitutional incarceration and policing in both its current state and how we got here. I liked that it included expert opinions from knowledgeable folks both who have been in the students and those with education and expertise. I think showing what’s not working in the system and giving feedback on what needs fixing and what needs mass overhaul helped me to contextualiza the issue and imagine what change could look like.

The only note I have is that I almost DNFd because I hated the formatting on my e-reader and I couldn’t increase the font only zoom in which didn’t give me access to the full page. Was not sure if this just wasn’t thought through for the galleys but this wasn’t a very accessible text.

Really good read. The book goes in depth about all the elements of mass incarceration and policing that give issues now and how a change away from that system might look. The book deliberately highlights a lot of different opinions and expertise from people knowledgeable with the system and the work that needs to be done. As an abolitionist I found all essays helpful, including those more focused on reform, because it shows a lot of the elements that are currently not working and what needs to be considered when overhauling the system completely (even if I disagree on how). I think this is a great book for people who know of Dismantling but have a hard time conceptualising it.

This is a great primer on mass incarceration for someone who wants to get familiar with the current theories, attitudes, and debate surrounding justice and carceral reform.

It's easy to follow, engaging, and interesting. I learned a lot that I'll be taking with me. This book is topical and thorough - I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, or wanting to know more. It'd also be great in a college curriculum, or in a high school space, if specific essays were pulled out for discussion.

I really liked the perspective and breadth of this book. The most important part for me is that it's about ways to make the dismantling happen.

Compelling exploration of the complex issues of mass incarceration in the United States. Focused on social and racial injustices that define America’s criminal system. Well researched and organized into parts, where each aspect is given equal consideration and focus. Kudos to the writers for their ability to navigate the multifaceted nature of the problem, addressing the racial disparities, socioeconomic implications, and systemic issues that underpin the phenomenon. I would recommend this book both to those who already have some knowledge of incarceration issue and legal system in the United States and those who might be just starting their journey into this topic. I think the authors did a great job of combining some of the well-known works (such as those of Angela Davis) with examples, cases & stories from present time.
Personally, I highly enjoyed the approach of suggesting the questions for the reader to ask himself while reading each of the chapters. I appreciate that the books covers many of the basic reasons for disapproval of abolitionism & provides some form of dialog about questions most asked, by those who hear of abolitionist ideas for the first time (Although I wish it would be done in the first chapters and not at the end) and proposes/showcases real life solutions. The authors also highlight the consequences of incarceration that follow, those who leave the prison system through their later life.

Call to action for those interested in fostering positive change within the criminal justice system

This is a massive undertaking of a book and for good reason. Something like dismantling the incarceration system is worth the effort it takes to read. No book, or guidance on abolishing systems is perfect but this book is an incredibly resource.