The Political Roots of Racial Tracking in American Criminal Justice. By Nina M. Moore. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015. 406 pp. $30.99 paperback.

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/lasr.12258
• Published date: 01 March 2017
• Date: 01 March 2017

both an affective and intellectual level. Symbolically, this chapter

provides a momentary pause and a timely reminder of the personal

realities that underpin the need for this book. Then, Deer launches

into the final four chapters, which critically consider recent legal

reforms that have further contributed to outrageous levels of rape.

In the concluding sections, Deer proposes a range of survivor-

centric approaches and self-determination-based remedies that may

begin to “decolonize” America and address the “vacuum of justice”

(p. xiii) that exists for so many Native women.

Throughout her book, Deer demonstrates an impressive com-

mand of a range of complex content. She writes with passion and

pain of the many generations of women burdened with unspeak-

able trauma, yet never loses sight of the broader dimensions of the

problem. Grand themes like law, society, power, politics, colonial-

ism, structure, institution, oppression, race, sex, identity, spirituali-

ty, and belief systems are artfully woven throughout the cohesive

and compelling narrative. Deer’s writing is engaging and refresh-

ing, making reading this book—despite its challenging content—a

pleasure. Unlike much academic literature, it is light on discipline-

specific jargon, thus continuing in the tradition of feminist political

writers who show a determination to produce work is that accessible

to a wide readership. Accordingly, this publication will be of great

use to scholars and practitioners in a variety of fields. It is an excel-

lent example of innovative interdisciplinary work and is highly rec-

ommended for those working in law, criminology, politics, history,

public affairs, indigenous, postcolonial, sex and gender studies, and

in the areas of peace, conflict, justice, and transitional justice.

***

The Political Roots of Racial Tracking in American Criminal Justice.

By Nina M. Moore. New York: Cambridge University Press,

2015. 406 pp. $30.99 paperback.

Reviewed by Bryan L. Sykes, University of California-Irvine

In April 2016, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters clashed with

Bill Clinton over his role in the passage of the 1994 Crime Bill and

Hillary Clinton’s use of the term “super predators” to describe the

involvement of black youth in criminal offenses. Demonstrators

sought to highlight how policymakers and the general public con-

struct narratives and social policies that fuel misperceptions,

Book Reviews 211