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This book is about the convergence of trends in two American institutions – the economy and the criminal justice system. The American economy has radically transformed in the past half-century, led by advances in automation technology that have permanently altered labor market dynamics. Over the same period, the US criminal justice system experienced an unprecedented expansion, at great cost. These costs include not only the $80 billion annually in direct expenditures on criminal justice, but also the devastating impacts experienced by justice-involved individuals, families, and communities. This book examines these potential consequences, the meaning of work in American society, and suggests alternative redistributive and policy solutions to avert the collision course of these economic and criminal justice policy trends.
List of contents
1 The Contours of the Problem
2 The U.S. Economy in the Twenty-First Century
3 The Criminal Justice System in the Twenty-First Century
4 Work and Welfare in American Culture and Society
5 The Consequences of Denial
6 A Way Forward
7 Conclusion: Charting a New Course
Acknowledgments
Notes
References
Index
About the author
KATHLEEN AUERHAHN is an associate professor of criminal justice at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on criminal justice policy analysis, with an emphasis on the intersection of inequality, social control, and harm reduction.
Summary
Work, in the American ethos is the marker of success, masculinity and how one "contributes to society". What are the consequences of ignoring these converging structural trends? This book examines these potential consequences, the meaning of work in American society, and suggests alternative redistributive and policy solutions.
