Book Review: Thurman, Q., & Jamieson, J. D. (2004). Police Problem Solving. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson. pp. vi, 169

• DOI: 10.1177/0734016808314564
• Published date: 01 March 2008
• Date: 01 March 2008
• Subject Matter: Articles

issue into manageable pieces. Within the 149 pages,Alexander cites more than 70 court cases

adding further credibility to this solidly written book.

Occasionally, Alexander breaks from the book’s logical sequence to inject a personal

opinion or assumption and at times takes a sarcastic tone. These undercurrents were daunting

but made the reader analyze other aspects of the book to determine whether the arguments

being made were compelling or subjective anecdotes. Although Alexander’s sarcasm is

apparent, it cannot be denied that this appears to be a part of the historical court experience

of African Americans. Judicial statements and decisions which give way to broad interpre-

tations of the law are frequently demonstrated in the book. Abuse of the law has occurred

so frequently over so many decades that it is, perhaps, a running joke to African Americans

including Alexander. Specifically, this book has succeeded in weaving a theoretical fabric

that explains the continued discriminatory practices of the judicial system that African

Americans face.

Despite Alexander’s occasional assumptions and cynicism, Racism, African Americans, and

Social Justice is a solid, well-written book which has the ability to teach a new generation of

students about the real history of African Americans. Although many books exist on this subject,

Alexander’s straightforward style which sometimes reads like a novel, yet is supported by

historical documents, has the ability to engage a new generation of students, as well as anyone

with an interest in the experiences of African Americans. More important, it is one of the

few books which cite historical Federal Court documentation as it pertains to the courts’

discrimination against African Americans. He does offer a readable integration of literature

that spans several areas of the criminal justice field. The strength of this book is its impressive

review of federal cases and research showing that discrimination and injustice occur at every

layer of society. This would be an appropriate choice for a text in graduate and undergrad-

uate courses in criminal justice, law, political science, sociology, and social work.

A professor of social work at the Ohio State University, Rudolph Alexander, Jr., has

published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals, in both social work and crimi-

nal justice. He is also the author of four books, including Race and Justice and To Ascend

Into the Shining World Again. Alexander’s autobiography chronicles his journey from being

a 17-year-old youth on death row in 1968 Georgia, to a free man and professor at Ohio

State University.

David N. Baker

University of Toledo

Thurman, Q., & Jamieson, J. D. (2004). Police Problem

Solving. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson. pp. vi, 169.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016808314564

Law enforcement is often characterized as conservative in its methods and traditional in its

approach to crime. Correspondingly, police departments often resist scrutiny or change except

in times of internal scandal or external catastrophe. This volume represents a refreshing and

much-needed departure from that reality. It is also useful reading outside the law enforcement

116 Criminal Justice Review