Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms

Prison by Any Other Name critiques popular "alternatives to incarceration" such as electronic monitoring, locked-down drug treatment centers, house arrest, mandated psychiatric treatment, and data-driven surveillance, arguing that they actually weave in new strands of punishment and control, bringing new populations under the state's physical control. The book offers critical insights for readers to navigate the dizzying terrain of a world turned upside down and explore alternative justice practices.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 23 September 2021
Publisher: The New Press

Electronic monitoring, locked-down drug treatment centers, house arrest, mandated psychiatric treatment, and data-driven surveillance are just a few of the alternatives to incarceration that are frequently touted as cost-effective substitutes. However, in a scathing critique, Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law reveal that these so-called reforms actually incorporate new forms of punishment and control, bringing new populations under the physical control of the state who would not have otherwise been subject to imprisonment. Whether you are a seasoned abolitionist or are just becoming interested in sensible alternatives to retrograde policing and criminal justice policies, this highly praised book offers a wealth of critical insights that will help you navigate the dizzying terrain of a world turned upside down and make sense of what should take the place of mass incarceration.

In a foreword by Michelle Alexander, Prison by Any Other Name exposes how a kinder narrative of reform is effectively obscuring an agenda of social control, challenging us to question the ways we replicate the status quo when pursuing change, and offering a bolder vision for truly alternative justice practices.

Weight: 406g
Dimension: 139 x 217 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781620976975