Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy, and an Abolitionist Future

Why are there so many Americans behind bars?

It is quite perplexing that the rate of incarceration is so high in the United States. While we don’t have the highest incarcerate rate, with close to two million citizens behind bars the U.S. has the largest prison population in the world, second to China. Even more shockingly, when compared to other similar developed nations, our rate of incarceration is off the charts. What factors contribute to this phenomenon of mass incarceration in our country? Is there something seriously broken within our justice system? From his own personal experience of serving twenty-one years in prison as well as his own efforts working to reform the criminal justice system, DeWeaver shares his observations about what’s wrong, why citizens should be concerned, and what should be done about it. This is a thought-provoking read for anyone concerned about social justice, especially for marginalized groups.