Thinking about Crime is a lively analysis of American exceptionalism in penal policy, depicting and explaining the United States crime control industry's position as the unquestioned behemoth among Western nations."
Times Literary Supplement Thinking about Crime is a lively and lucid account of the dramatic changes in penal policy in the US, with a cogent critique of their effectiveness and justice."
Times ... Read moreLiterary Supplement "Thinking About Crime is a provocative and important book that should be required reading for policymakers and students of criminal justice. Tonry presents a convincing and carefully crafted analysis of contemporary crime control policies, which he contends are overly severe, wasteful, and unfair. Using historical and cross-national data, he demonstrates that the harshly punitive policies adopted by the United States
but rejected by policymakers in other Western countries
have been shaped by American sensibilities toward crime, criminals, and punishment. Tonry's prescriptions for reform are reasonable; following them will produce a more humane and effective criminal justice system."
Law and Politics Book Review "Anyone making criminal justice policy should read Thinking About Crime. In this book, Michael Tonry closely examines the very different ways nations have responded to changing crime patterns and shifting cultural sensibilities over the past several decades. In so doing, he offers an intriguing analysis of how and why the United States has emerged at the beginning of the twenty-first century with by far the most punitive but by no means the most effective punishment policy. His ability to navigate complexities and render them obvious, makes this important book a pleasure to read."
Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator, New Jersey "Norval Morris recommended this manuscript to me
and what a great recommendation that turned out to be. Here we have solid insights into a system gone awry. The cost is needless suffering and huge distortions in our spending priorities."
Paul Simon, former U.S. Senator, Illinois "No one would have chosen the criminal justice system America now has....it is too severe, too expensive and locks up too many black and poor Americans. In this brilliant book, Michael Tonry shows how things came to be as they are and how they can be made better."
Carol Moseley Braun, former U.S. Senator, Illinois "Michael Tonry is one of the most provocative editors and authors in matters of crime policy. In Thinking About Crime, he challenges the spate of punitive actions that characterized the final third of the last century. He brings historical and cross-national perspectives to this important inquiry into how America's punishment polices went out of control. Drawing on his extensive experience in sentencing and corrections, he provides a number of sober suggestions for bringing restraint back into the punishment process. This is an important book that should be widely read and discussed."
Al Blumstein, co-editor of The Crime Drop ...an engaged but evidence-based argument, and it brings alive the literature which it reviews. While its intended audience was probably the intelligent American politician, it deserves to be read widely, not least by criminology students.
British Society of Criminology Newsletter
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