The Collapse of American Criminal Justice

Name: The Collapse of American Criminal Justice
Price: 20.22 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (63 reviews)

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Book Synopsis: The rule of law has vanished in America’s criminal justice system. Prosecutors now decide whom to punish and how severely. Almost no one accused of a crime will ever face a jury. Inconsistent policing, rampant plea bargaining, overcrowded courtrooms, and ever more draconian sentencing have produced a gigantic prison population, with black citizens the primary defendants and victims of crime. In this passionately argued book, the leading criminal law scholar of his generation looks to history for the roots of these problems—and for their solutions.

The Collapse of American Criminal Justice takes us deep into the dramatic history of American crime—bar fights in nineteenth-century Chicago, New Orleans bordellos, Prohibition, and decades of murderous lynching. Digging into these crimes and the strategies that attempted to control them, Stuntz reveals the costs of abandoning local democratic control. The system has become more centralized, with state legislators and federal judges given increasing power. The liberal Warren Supreme Court’s emphasis on procedures, not equity, joined hands with conservative insistence on severe punishment to create a system that is both harsh and ineffective.

What would get us out of this Kafkaesque world? More trials with local juries; laws that accurately define what prosecutors seek to punish; and an equal protection guarantee like the one that died in the 1870s, to make prosecution and punishment less discriminatory. Above all, Stuntz eloquently argues, Americans need to remember again that criminal punishment is a necessary but terrible tool, to use effectively, and sparingly.

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Are you tired of a justice system that seems to have lost sight of its purpose? Look no further than "The Collapse of American Criminal Justice". This powerful and eye-opening book by a leading criminal law scholar delves deep into the roots of the problems plaguing America's criminal justice system, and offers compelling solutions for a better future.

With its passionately argued content, "The Collapse of American Criminal Justice" exposes the alarming reality that prosecutors now hold immense power in deciding who to punish and to what extent. This has resulted in a severe lack of jury trials and an overreliance on plea bargains. The system has become increasingly centralized, leaving local democratic control behind.

Step back in time with the author as he takes you through the dramatic history of American crime, showcasing the costs of abandoning local control. From bar fights in nineteenth-century Chicago to Prohibition and decades of lynching, this book unearths the consequences of overlooking the importance of local juries and accurate laws.

"The Collapse of American Criminal Justice" doesn't just shed light on the problems; it presents thought-provoking solutions. The author advocates for a return to more trials with local juries, as well as the implementation of laws that accurately define what prosecutors seek to punish. Additionally, an equal protection guarantee is proposed to reduce discrimination in prosecution and punishment.

It's time to embrace the notion that criminal punishment is a necessary but terrible tool that should be used effectively and sparingly. "The Collapse of American Criminal Justice" serves as a wake-up call to all Americans, urging us to demand a fairer, more just system. Take action today and discover the powerful insights within this compelling book. Learn more here.

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