Book Review: Steven Raphael and Michael A. Stoll (Eds.) Do Prisons Make Us Safer? The Benefits and Costs of the Prison Boom. NY: Russell SAGE Foundation, 2009. viii, 343pp. ISBN: 978-0-87154-860-3

• Date: 01 June 2010
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016809356318
• Published date: 01 June 2010
• Author: Gennifer Furst
• Subject Matter: Articles

Pratt further provides us with a critical examination of the sources that claim strong public sup-

port for incarceration and get-tough strategies for crime control. He illustrates public perceptions on

crime control strategies are often associated with methods question formulation. Using research

data, he demonstrates how public perception can change dramatically depending on how broad or

narrow questions are concerning preferences on punishment and justice. Junior investigators and

students who wish to explore community beliefs and perceptions of crime control may find Pratt’s

argument to be a valuable tool in formulation of survey data collection.

Pratt challenges rhetoric arguing that reductions in crime are a direct result of the expansion of

incarceration. Specifically, he presents empirical studies using multivariate models to assess the cost

and impact of incarceration, including investigations that analyze the financial returns on incarcera-

tion as well as returns on crime reduction. In addition, Pratt elaborates on the consequences to indi-

viduals, communities as well as mass incarceration’s effects on racial inequality. Those searching

for information on the impact of incarceration will find valuable and motivating information in this

reading, which will be especially important to scholars collecting empirical evidence to support the

harm of incarceration; professional advocating for prison reform; and social workers who practice in

community settings with poor economic conditions.

Pratt continuesby providing a descriptionof the characteristicsof our growing inmate population as

consisting mainly of low level of offenders. He presentstheories and assumptions behindthe rationale

to use incarceration for low-level offenders. He presents tools used by the criminal justice system as

well as theories and assumptions around the development of criminality over the life course.

The author does not complete his work without acknowledging the necessity of incarceration in

specific circumstances. However, he also provides alternatives to incarceration, as well as steps pol-

icy makers can take in developing better methods to address criminal behavior.

The book is very readable with enough rigor, quality, and content to support the author’s positions

in an engaging and informative manner. Pratt offers insightful and valuable research considerations

to researchers and scholars interested in the issue of incarceration and criminal justice.

Despite the strength of this book, some limitations exist. Graphs are noticeably lacking and are an

excellent way to quickly and efficiently present empirical and observational data. It was surprising

that with all the statistics contained in this work, there are fairly few visual aids. The author could

have bolstered specific points by incorporating and using more historical legislation that directly

impacted the use ofincarceration. Much of the data seemed to scrutinize general conservative beliefs

about punishment; however, it would have been helpful to get much morecontext and concrete exam-

ples of how this process has presented itself in actual events. Perhaps, describing more legislation and

political figures that have used thesetactics as well as additional narrativesthat provide more contexts

into the nature of criminality and incarceration would have strengthened some of his positions.

Addicted to Incarceration is an engaging and informative perspective on crime control in the

United States, notwithstanding these few limitations. It is a valuable text for scholars, researchers,

and students who wish to acquire knowledge on what fuels the expansion of incarceration in the

United States.

Steven Raphael and Michael A. Stoll (Eds.)

Do Prisons Make Us Safer? The Benefits and Costs of the Prison Boom. NY: Russell SAGE Foundation, 2009. viii,

343pp.

ISBN: 978-0-87154-860-3

Reviewed by: Gennifer Furst, William Paterson University, NJ, USA

DOI: 10.1177/0734016809356318

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