Carceral Citizens - by Caroline M Parker

About the Book

"In Carceral Citizens, anthropologist Caroline Parker offers an ethnographic portrait of faith-based therapeutic communities in Puerto Rico. A joint product of the carceral state and the non-profit sector, these communities serve as reeducation and recovery centers for mostly male non-violent drug offenders who serve out their sentences engaged in manual labor and prayer. The most surprising aspect of these centers, however, is that their "graduates" often stay there even long after the completion of their sentences, working as self-appointed counselors in a mixture of volunteer and low-wage positions. Parker seeks to explain this curious fact by showing how, in these therapeutic communities, criminalized men find ways of carving out a meaningful existence. Through their participation in the day-to-day functioning of the centers, they discover and cultivate fulfilling alternative forms of belonging, livelihood, and citizenship, despite living within the restrictions of the carceral state. Situating her study against the backdrop of Puerto Rico's colonial history, Parker aims to challenge common assumptions about confinement, labor, rehabilitation, and social life"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A nuanced take on how carceral expansions are changing labor and social life.

In Carceral Citizens, anthropologist Caroline M. Parker offers an ethnographic portrait of therapeutic communities in Puerto Rico, the oldest colony in the Americas. As nonprofits nested within the carceral state, therapeutic communities serve as reeducation and recovery centers for the mostly male drug offenders who serve out their sentences engaged in manual labor and prayer. The most surprising aspect of these centers, however, is that their "graduates" often remain long after the completion of their term, working as self-appointed peer counselors in a mixture of volunteer and low-wage positions.

Parker seeks to explain this dynamic by showing how, in these therapeutic communities, criminalized men find new and meaningful ways of living in the shadow of the prison. Through their participation in the day-to-day functioning of the centers, they discover and cultivate alternative forms of belonging, livelihood, and citizenship, despite living within the restrictions of the carceral state. Situating her study against the backdrop of Puerto Rico's colonial history, and with findings that extend across Latin America, Parker challenges common assumptions about confinement, labor, and rehabilitation. By delving into lives shaped by the convergence of imperialism, the carceral state, and self-help, she offers a fresh understanding of the transformations of labor and social life brought about by mass incarceration.

Review Quotes

"A deep ethnographic and empathetic dive into the boredom--but hypersociality--of drug treatment and the second-class citizenship imposed by ongoing US colonization of Puerto Rico. Wonderfully accessible and amazingly erudite."-- "Philippe Bourgois, author of In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio"

"Parker's observations are insightful, her interpretations incisive, and her prose elegant and engaging, raising critical issues about the intersections among incarceration, confinement, belonging, and rehabilitation."-- "Jorge Duany, author of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know"

About the Author

Caroline M. Parker is a lecturer in anthropology at University College London.